Reading Performance and Compensatory Head Posture in Infantile Nystagmus after Null Zone Training.

Norliza Mohamad Fadzil,Noor Haziq Saliman,Zainora Mohammed,Mizhanim Mohamad Shahimin

doi:10.3390/ijerph16234728

Norliza Mohamad Fadzil, Noor Haziq Saliman + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234728

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the visual function, reading performance, and compensatory head posture (CHP) in schoolchildren with infantile nystagmus. A total of 18 participants aged between 13 to 18 years old were divided into spectacle (n = 9) and null zone group (n = 9) based on their visual acuity. Visual acuity (LogMAR), contrast sensitivity (Pelli–Robson), reading time and rate (Tobii TX300), and CHP were measured pre and post null zone reading training. Participants in the null zone group received 10 sessions of training (5 weeks). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of participants in the spectacle and null zone groups were not significantly different pre and post training. Reading performance, i.e., reading time (z = −1.36; p = 0.173) and reading rate (z = −0.06; p = 0.953), of participants in the spectacle group was not significantly different after 5 weeks. Reading time (z = −2.55; p = 0.011) and reading rate (z = −2.07; p = 0.038 of participants in the null zone group showed significant improvement post training. After 5 weeks, CHP improved in six out of the nine participants (66.7%) of the null zone group and was unchanged in all participants in the spectacle group. Null zone reading training could benefit children with infantile nystagmus in improving reading performance and compensatory head posture.

Highlights

Vision impairment in children may occur as a result of congenital, hereditary, inflammatory, and infectious processes or trauma
The major causes of vision impairment and blindness in children are influenced by the level of socioeconomic development and availability of health care services [1]
The change in CHP of participants both in the spectacle and the null zone groups was presented as a percentage

Summary

Introduction

Vision impairment in children may occur as a result of congenital, hereditary, inflammatory, and infectious processes or trauma. In Malaysia, infantile nystagmus (15%) was reported to be the second after congenital cataract (17%) of major causes of vision impairment in children [2]. It was diagnosed in 0.06% of special school children aged between 7 and 17 years of age in Malaysia [3]. Null zone is one of many important features of infantile nystagmus and it may present either in eccentric gaze or in the primary position [5]. Young children will learn to adopt a CHP if the null zone is eccentric and advantageous to improve their visual acuity or minimize oscillation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion