The association between visual attention and body movement-controlled video games, balance and mobility in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Body movement-controlled video games involving physical motion and visual attention may have the potential to train both abilities simultaneously. Our purpose was to determine the associations between performance in these games and visual attention, balance and mobility in a group of older adults. The long-term goal is to identify the optimal type of interactive games with regards to training potential. METHODS: Fifty healthy adults aged 65+ years participated in this cross-sectional study. Visual attention was measured with static and dynamic versions of a useful field of view (UFV) and a multiple object tracking (MOT) test. Balance was measured with a force plate in bi-pedal quiet stance test (QST) and one-legged stance (OLST). Gait variability and walking speed were assessed with the Five Meter Walk Test (5MWT). Four Microsoft™ Xbox® 360 Kinect™ interactive video games were chosen based on the apparent levels of visual attention demand. RESULTS: Visual attention (UFV and MOT) was significantly associated with performance in Xbox® Kinect™ games that appeared to have a high visual attention demand (p < 0.05), while there was minimal or no significant association with games with apparent low visual attention demand. Balance and mobility show correlations with visual attention, and with Xbox games. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that there are relationships between visual attention, balance, mobility and Xbox® Kinect™ game performance. Since different Xbox® games were associated with different balance, mobility and visual attention scores, a variety of such games, rather than a single game, may be most effective for training for falls prevention.

Toward developing a standardized Arabic continuous text reading chart / Hacia el desarrollo de una cartilla estandarizada de lectura de textos continuos en árabe

Purpose: Near visual acuity is an essential measurement during an oculo-visual assessment. Short duration continuous text reading charts measure reading acuity and other aspects of reading performance. There is no standardized version of such chart in Arabic. The aim of this study is to create sentences of equal readability to use in the development of a standardized Arabic continuous text reading chart. Methods: Initially, 109 Arabic pairs of sentences were created for use in constructing a chart with similar layout to the Colenbrander chart. They were created to have the same grade level of difficulty and physical length. Fifty-three adults and sixteen children were recruited to validate the sentences. Reading speed in correct words per minute (CWPM) and standard length words per minute (SLWPM) was measured and errors were counted. Criteria based on reading speed and errors made in each sentence pair were used to exclude sentence pairs with more outlying characteristics, and to select the final group of sentence pairs. Results: Forty-five sentence pairs were selected according to the elimination criteria. For adults, the average reading speed for the final sentences was 166 CWPM and 187 SLWPM and the average number of errors per sentence pair was 0.21. Childrens’ average reading speed for the final group of sentences was 61 CWPM and 72 SLWPM. Their average error rate was 1.71. Conclusions: The reliability analysis showed that the final 45 sentence pairs are highly comparable. They will be used in constructing an Arabic short duration continuous text reading chart (AU)

Objetivo: La agudeza visual de cerca es una medición esencial del examen visual. Las tablas de lectura de textos continuos de corta duración miden la agudeza visual y otros aspectos del rendimiento lector. No existe una versión estandarizada de dichas cartillas en árabe. El objetivo de este estudio es el de crear frases de igual legibilidad, para ser utilizadas en el desarrollo de una cartilla estandarizada de lectura de textos continuos en árabe. Métodos: Inicialmente, se crearon 109 pares de frases en árabe para construir una cartilla con un diseño similar al de la tabla de Colenbrander. Fueron creadas para tener el mismo nivel de dificultad e igual longitud física. Se reunió a cincuenta y tres adultos y dieciséis niños para validar las frases. Se midieron la velocidad lectora en palabras correctas por minuto (CWPM) y las palabras de longitud estándar por minuto (SLWPM), contabilizándose los errores. Se utilizaron los criterios basados en la velocidad lectora y los errores en cada frase para excluir los pares de frases con más características periféricas, y seleccionar el grupo final de pares de frases. Resultados: Se seleccionaron cuarenta y cinco pares de frases, de acuerdo con los criterios de eliminación. Para los adultos, la velocidad lectora media de las frases finales fue de 166 CWPM y 187 SLWPM, y el número medio de errores por par de frase fue de 0,21. La velocidad lectora media de los niños para el grupo final de frases fue de 61 CWPM y 72 SLWPM. Su índice medio de error fue de 1,71. Conclusiones. El análisis de fiabilidad mostró que los 45 pares de frases finales son altamente comparables. Se utilizarán para construir una tabla de lectura de textos continuos de corta duración en árabe (AU)

Toward developing a standardized Arabic continuous text reading chart.

PURPOSE: Near visual acuity is an essential measurement during an oculo-visual assessment. Short duration continuous text reading charts measure reading acuity and other aspects of reading performance. There is no standardized version of such chart in Arabic. The aim of this study is to create sentences of equal readability to use in the development of a standardized Arabic continuous text reading chart. METHODS: Initially, 109 Arabic pairs of sentences were created for use in constructing a chart with similar layout to the Colenbrander chart. They were created to have the same grade level of difficulty and physical length. Fifty-three adults and sixteen children were recruited to validate the sentences. Reading speed in correct words per minute (CWPM) and standard length words per minute (SLWPM) was measured and errors were counted. Criteria based on reading speed and errors made in each sentence pair were used to exclude sentence pairs with more outlying characteristics, and to select the final group of sentence pairs. RESULTS: Forty-five sentence pairs were selected according to the elimination criteria. For adults, the average reading speed for the final sentences was 166 CWPM and 187 SLWPM and the average number of errors per sentence pair was 0.21. Childrens' average reading speed for the final group of sentences was 61 CWPM and 72 SLWPM. Their average error rate was 1.71. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability analysis showed that the final 45 sentence pairs are highly comparable. They will be used in constructing an Arabic short duration continuous text reading chart.