A pilot study. Depth perception and near stereoacuity: is it related to academic performance in young children?

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
A study of the relationship between an overall measure of visual function at near, specifically stereoacuity, and academic performance in kindergarten through second grade was conducted.

METHOD:
One hundred seventeen children (mean age = 7.33 +/-0.97 years) from a middle class, suburban, elementary school participated in this masked investigation. The Randot 2 stereotest was used to measure stereoacuity at 40 cm. The relationship between stereoacuity and teachers' personal ratings of academic ability was analyzed because teachers' grades are a primary means of assessing school performance. The children's regular classroom teachers rated the children with respect to reading, mathematics, and writing ability. Children in the second grade (n = 47) were also rated on spelling ability. Only experienced teachers were included in the investigation and the validity of the teachers' rating was substantiated by significant correlations with standardized test scores. Teachers were masked to performance on the stereotest.

RESULTS:
Performance on the Randot was found to be "statistically significantly" (p=<0.05) and "medically-clinically significantly" related to standardized reading test scores (p=0.033) and teachers' personal ratings of reading (p<0.001), mathematics (p<0.001), writing (p<0.001) and spelling (p=0.048) ability.

CONCLUSION:
Good visual function at near, particularly good stereoacuity, is significantly correlated to academic performance.

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Author information

Author/s: Kulp, Marjean Taylor (MT); Schmidt, Paulette P (PP);

Affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, OH 43218-2342, USA. kulp.6(-atsign-)osu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Binocular vision & strabismus quarterly (Binocul Vis Strabismus Q), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-; vol 17 (issue 2) : pp 129-34; discussion 133

Dates: Created 2002/06/17; Completed 2002/08/12; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12067270, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans
Learning - physiology
Male
Pilot Projects
Random Allocation
Vision Tests
Vision, Binocular - physiology
Visual Acuity - physiology

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