Validation of a Reading Assessment for Persons With Homonymous Hemianopia or Quadrantanopia

Abstract

ObjectiveTo preliminarily validate the Visual Skills for Reading Test (VSRT) for assessing reading performance in persons with homonymous hemianopia (HH) or quadrantanopia. DesignRetrospective chart review. SettingUniversity-based outpatient low vision rehabilitation center. ParticipantsPersons (N=38) with HH or quadrantanopia who completed the VSRT. InterventionsValidation procedures included testing for equivalence of the 3 test versions, estimation of internal consistency reliability, and known-group comparison using VSRT results from previous studies of adults with normal vision and central field loss. Main Outcome MeasuresCorrected reading rate, reading accuracy rate, type and number of reading errors, and completion time were recorded and evaluated. ResultsCronbach α for the VSRT across all participants was .80, which indicated good internal consistency. A known-group comparison showed that persons with a visual field deficit read significantly slower than did normally sighted adults (t580=10.13; P<.0001). Persons with quadrantanopia read significantly faster than did persons with HH (t36=2.25; P=.03) or those with central field loss (t48=3.17; P=.0027). These findings confirmed that the VSRT correctly discriminated between groups in terms of reading performance. ConclusionsPreliminary validation results indicate that the VSRT demonstrates adequate evidence of reliability and validity to evaluate reading performance in adults with HH or quadrantanopia.