Enhancement of reading ability using self-controlled gaze interface in a digital medium for children with neuro-oculomotor challenges

Abstract

There is ample research on the effectiveness of oculomotor training (OMT) to regain reading efficiency in Alphabetic language systems for many years, not only for learning disabilities but also applicable to patients with acquired brain injury. In addition, the advancement of eye tracking technology and computation model of reading, allowing researchers to enter new horizons in studying reading-related oculomotor (OM) skills. Yet there is a lack of studies in using OMT to enhance reading skills in Chinese for children with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) associated with congenital OM challenges. Our hypothesis is that by using self-directed gaze-interface to access a curriculum-based digital reading platform, it enhances the OM control of children with NMD during reading in Chinese; which in terms of accurate fixation to the area of interest (AOI), decreasing saccadic dysmetria, and better result in orthographic recognition in comparison with children without OMT. It is a cross-centres prospective Cohort study with quasi-experimental design. 21 students with NMD, aged 6 to 8 years with oculomotor challenges completed 8-weeks of interventions then followed by 4 months of repeated measures. Repeated measures showed improved and sustainable effect in treatment group than control group, such as accurate saccade and better revision result. Data analysis of between-group and within-group difference, and factor analysis is still in progress.