Precision, reliability and application of the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test.

BACKGROUND: The Wilkins Rate of Reading Test (WRRT) enables rapid measurement of reading speed using text passages that have no semantic content and demand minimal word recognition skills. It is suited to applications where the primary interest is in the influence of visual and ocular motor factors on reading rate. METHODS: We obtained estimates of precision and reliability of WRRT from four data samples (A-D) collected independently by the authors: (A) n = 118 adults; (B) n = 90 adults; (C) n = 787 children; (D) n = 134 children. Each participant was asked to read aloud as quickly and accurately as possible, for 1 min, and results were recorded as number of words read correctly per minute (wcpm). RESULTS: Estimates of precision are given by the within-subjects standard deviation sw , and reliability by the intraclass correlation coefficient for single measurements r1 . For each sample these estimates were (A) sw  = 11.5 wcpm, r1  = 0.85; (B) sw  = 3.8 wcpm, r1  = 0.98; (C) sw  = 6.7 wcpm, r1  = 0.93; (D) sw  = 6.2 wcpm, r1  = 0.94. CONCLUSION: The reliability of WRRT reflects large variation in reading rate between individuals compared to within-individual variability, indicating that it is a good test for discriminating differences in reading speed between individuals. The precision of the test varies from 3.8 wcpm to 11.5 wcpm among samples, and the pooled value of 7.2 wcpm, provides a basis for setting a population-wide criterion for minimum detectable change of reading rate in individuals over time. Nevertheless, a preferable way of monitoring change in an individual would be to use a criterion determined from estimates of that individual's baseline variation in WRRT scores.

The effect of viewing distance on responses to the pattern glare test.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether symptoms of pattern glare were affected by viewing distance, as distinct from spatial frequency, because of an association between symptoms and anomalies of accommodation and vergence. METHODS: One hundred young adults viewed gratings with spatial frequencies of 0.3, 2.3 and 9.4 cycles per degree (cpd) at four test distances (0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 metres). Participants were asked to grade the presence of 15 symptoms of visual perceptual distortions and discomfort, on a scale from zero (no symptoms) to 10 (maximum perceptual and somatic symptoms). RESULTS: The viewing distance did not affect the nature and strength of symptoms, when viewing gratings with similar spatial frequencies. The symptoms increased with spatial frequency (p < 0.008 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms from the Pattern Glare Test do not appear to be modulated by the changes in accommodation and vergence associated with viewing distance, at least in an unselected sample of students. The highest spatial frequency of the current Pattern Glare Test was 9.4 cpd at 0.4 metre and this is insufficiently high to measure the reduction in symptoms at high spatial frequencies. If assessing relative aversion to gratings of different spatial frequencies, it may be useful to increase the testing distance to 0.6 metre so as to increase the spatial frequency of the third grating to 14.2 cpd.

Pattern glare: the effects of contrast and color.

AIM: To test a theory of visual stress by investigating the inter-relationships between (1) the threshold contrast/saturation at which individuals first report discomfort when viewing colored gratings of progressively increasing contrast and decreasing saturation; (2) the choice of a colored overlay for reading; (3) any increase in reading speed when the overlay is used. METHOD: Ninety-five young adults, with normal color vision, reported illusions from square-wave gratings (Pattern Glare Test), chose any colored overlays that improved clarity (Intuitive Color Overlays) and read aloud randomly ordered common words (Wilkins Rate of Reading Test). This was followed by an automated choice of tints for text using various screen colors on a tablet, and a test of discomfort from patterns of progressively increasing contrast and decreasing saturation, using software developed for this study. All participants wore their optimal refractive correction throughout the procedure. RESULTS: Fifty-eight participants chose a colored overlay and reported that it made text easier and more comfortable to read. On average, these individuals had a greater improvement in reading speed with their overlays (p = 0.003), a lower contrast threshold at which discomfort from achromatic gratings was first reported (p = 0.015), and a tendency to report more pattern glare (p = 0.052), compared to the other participants. Participants who chose both a most and least preferred tint for text using the automated procedure reported discomfort from colored gratings at a significantly higher contrast with their most preferred color compared to their least preferred color (p = 0.003). The choice of a colored tint was moderately consistent across tests. The most and least preferred colors tended to be complementary. CONCLUSION: Colored tints that improved reading speed reduced pattern glare both in terms of the illusion susceptibility and in terms of discomfort contrast threshold, supporting a theory of visual stress. An automated test that incorporates colored gratings and a choice of most and least preferred color might better identify individuals whose reading speed improves with colored overlays.

Identifying visual stress during a routine eye examination / Identificación del estrés visual durante un examen ocular rutinario

Purpose: To investigate whether the clinical tests used in routine eye examinations can identify adults whose reading rate increases with their preferred coloured overlay(s). Methods: Routine optometric tests were used to measure 73 undergraduate students’ refractive error, visual acuity, stereo-acuity, amplitude of accommodation, near point of convergence, associated heterophoria at near, colour vision and ocular motility. Participants chose an overlay or combination of overlays with colour optimal for clarity, and completed the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test with and without an overlay(s) of this colour. Results: Overall, there was a significant increase in reading speed with overlay (t(72) = −5.26, p < 0.0005). Twenty-six participants (36%) increased their reading rate by >5% with their chosen coloured overlay(s). Ten participants (14%) had a reading speed increase of >10%. The increase in reading speed was not significantly associated with any clinical finding. Conclusion: Tests which are completed in routine eye examinations did not identify those participants who benefitted from coloured overlays in terms of reading speed (AU)

Objetivo: Investigar si las pruebas clínicas utilizadas durante los exámenes oculares rutinarios pueden identificar a aquellos adultos cuya velocidad de lectura se incrementa con uno o varios filtros del color identificado como preferido por el paciente. Métodos: Se utilizaron pruebas optométricas rutinarias para medir el error refractivo, la agudeza visual, la agudeza estereoscópica, la amplitud de acomodación, el punto próximo de convergencia, la heteroforia en cerca asociada, la visión del color y la motilidad ocular en 73 estudiantes universitarios. Los participantes utilizaron un filtro, o una combinación de filtros con el color óptimo en términos de claridad, y completaron el Wilkins Rate of Reading Test, con o sin el o los filtros de dicho color. Resultados: En general, se produjo un incremento significativo de la velocidad lectora con el filtro (t(72) = -5,26, p < 0,0005). Veintiséis participantes (36%) incrementaron su índice de lectura en un >5% con el o los filtros coloreados escogidos. Diez participantes (14%) obtuvieron un incremento de la velocidad lectora de>10%. El incremento de la velocidad lectora no se asoció significativamente a ningún otro hallazgo clínico. Conclusión: Las pruebas que se realizaron durante los exámenes oculares rutinarios no identificaron a aquellos participantes que se beneficiaron de los filtros coloreados en términos de velocidad lectora (AU)

Identifying visual stress during a routine eye examination.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the clinical tests used in routine eye examinations can identify adults whose reading rate increases with their preferred coloured overlay(s). METHODS: Routine optometric tests were used to measure 73 undergraduate students' refractive error, visual acuity, stereo-acuity, amplitude of accommodation, near point of convergence, associated heterophoria at near, colour vision and ocular motility. Participants chose an overlay or combination of overlays with colour optimal for clarity, and completed the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test with and without an overlay(s) of this colour. RESULTS: Overall, there was a significant increase in reading speed with overlay (t(72)=-5.26, p<0.0005). Twenty-six participants (36%) increased their reading rate by >5% with their chosen coloured overlay(s). Ten participants (14%) had a reading speed increase of >10%. The increase in reading speed was not significantly associated with any clinical finding. CONCLUSION: Tests which are completed in routine eye examinations did not identify those participants who benefitted from coloured overlays in terms of reading speed.