Biomedical subjects

M T Kulp

Publications and source records attributed to M T Kulp.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Repeatability of the Visual Manipulation Test.

BACKGROUND: The Getman-Henderson-Marcus Visual Manipulation Test (VMT) is a commonly used test of visualization with an objective scoring procedure. However, its repeatability has not been studied. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the repeatability of the VMT in children in the second through fourth grades. METHOD: The VMT was administered to the children (n = 193; mean age, 8.72 years) from a middle class elementary school near Columbus, Ohio. One class from each grade (n = 56) was retested by the same optometrist within 1 month. Repeatability analysis included plotting the difference vs. the mean of the scores obtained at the initial test and retest. RESULTS: All the children were able to complete the test. Means and SD's were found to be 5.23+/-1.98 for second graders, 5.76+/-2.10 for third graders, and 6.95+/-2.30 for fourth graders. The mean difference between test and retest scores was close to zero. The 95% limits of agreement were found to be -4.5 to 5.2. CONCLUSION: No consistent learning effect seemed to be present upon retest. However, analysis revealed poor repeatability for the VMT. Therefore, the VMT should not be used to monitor progress with therapy.

Child↗

PubMed1998

Relationship between visual skills and performance on saccadic eye movement testing.

The effect of visual skills, such as binocularity, on saccadic eye movement test performance is currently unknown. Therefore, the relationship between performance on commonly used clinical saccadic eye movement tests and visual skill was studied in a masked investigation of 181 kindergartners and first graders (mean age 6.25 years) from a middle class, suburban, elementary school near Cleveland, Ohio. The New York State Optometric Association King-Devick saccade test (NYSOA K-D) and the Developmental Eye Movement test (DEM) were employed because they are two commonly used clinical saccadic eye movement tests. A Modified Clinical Technique (MCT) vision screening and Randot stereoacuity test were performed to evaluate other visual skills. Analysis revealed that for the whole study population, total errors on the NYSOA K-D were significantly related to referral on the MCT screening (p = 0.015) and stereoacuity worse than 100 sec arc (p = 0.011). A trend toward significance was also found between DEM ratio and stereoacuity worse than 50 sec arc for the whole study population. However, in the children who passed the MCT, stereoacuity was not found to be significantly related to performance on NYSOA K-D or DEM. Thus, our findings indicate that visual difficulties may affect performance on the NYSOA K-D in this population.

Child↗

PubMed1997

The relation of clinical saccadic eye movement testing to reading in kindergartners and first graders.

Although a substantial body of research has demonstrated an association between reading and eye movements, this association has not been examined in kindergartners. Therefore, the relation between psychometric eye movement scores and reading skill was studied in a masked investigation with 181 kindergartners and first graders (mean age 6.25 years) from a middle class, suburban, elementary school near Cleveland, Ohio. Eye movements were evaluated with the New York State Optometric Association King-Devick (NYSOA K-D; Bernell Corporation, South Bend, IN) and the Developmental Eye Movement tests (DEM; Bernell Corporation, South Bend, IN). Digit knowledge was assessed with Reversals Frequency Test Execution subtest (Gardner). Reading performance was measured with Metropolitan Achievement Test 6 (MAT6) Reading Test and teachers' assessments. The number of unknown or reversed numbers on Gardner was significantly related to test times on the NYSOA K-D and DEM, but not the DEM ratio. Outcome on NYSOA K-D, determined by errors in conjunction with test time, was significantly related to reading ability in 5-year-olds (p = 0.0129), 6-year-olds (p = 0.0167), and the entire subject group when controlling for age (p = 0.0008). Our findings suggest that: (1) DEM factors out automaticity of number knowledge; (2) the NYSOA K-D can be completed by kindergartners; (3) the DEM is too difficult for many kindergarteners; and (4) performance on the NYSOA K-D is related to reading performance in 5- and 6-year-olds in kindergarten.

Child↗

PubMed1997

Reliability of the NYSOA King-Devick saccadic eye movement test in kindergartners and first graders.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown a learning effect frequently occurs on administration of the New York State Optometric Association King-Devick (NYSOA K-D) in 7- to 12-year-old children. However, the reliability of the NYSOA K-D has not been studied in younger children. Further, the effect of visual anomalies on reliability has not been investigated previously. METHODS: The reliability of the NYSOA K-D saccadic eye movement test was assessed in a masked investigation of 52 children in kindergarten and first grade (25 kindergartners [mean age, 5.76 years] and 27 first graders [mean age, 6.78 years]) from a middle-class, suburban, elementary school near Cleveland, Ohio. The MCT was administered to all the children. The NYSOA K-D test was administered to the children and then retested 1 week and 3 weeks later. RESULTS: An evaluation of the NYSOA K-D test/retest results revealed a significant trend toward improved test times in first graders (p = 0.0001). In addition, a high number of children were classified differently from one test administration to the next. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the NYSOA K-D is not reliable in kindergarten and first grade children.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Visual predictors of reading performance in kindergarten and first grade children.

PURPOSE: A masked investigation of the relation between performance on various vision tests and reading was conducted with 90 kindergartners (mean age 5.73 years) and 91 first graders (mean age 6.76 years) from a middle class, suburban, elementary school near Cleveland, Ohio. METHODS: Vision testing included the Modified Clinical Technique (MCT), +/- 2.00 D flipper lenses with red/green suppression check for accommodative facility, and Randot for stereoacuity. Reading performance was independently evaluated with the Metropolitan Achievement Test 6 Reading Test and teachers' assessments. RESULTS: The results revealed that accommodative facility was predictive of successful reading performance in 7-year-olds (p = 0.0431), first graders (p = 0.0125), and in the entire subject group when age (p = 0.0254) or grade (p = 0.0224) was controlled. Failure on the MCT was significantly associated with decreased reading skill in 5-year-olds (p = 0.0431). In addition, stereoacuity worse than 100 sec arc (p = 0.0316), MCT failure plus stereoacuity worse than 50 sec arc (p = 0.0316), and accommodative facility (p 0.0155) were predictive of whether children of average intelligence would show successful or unsuccessful reading ability. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, visual performance was significantly related to reading performance even in children of average intelligence when IQ was partially controlled. Also, the predictive value of the MCT for reading achievement could be improved by the addition of a referral criterion for stereoacuity. This would make the results of MCT screening more readily applicable to educators.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

PubMed1996

Effect of oculomotor and other visual skills on reading performance: a literature review.

The diagnosis and management of many oculomotor anomalies is within the domain of optometry. Thus, a thorough understanding of these systems and their relation to reading performance is vital. Efficient reading requires accurate eye movements and continuous integration of the information obtained from each fixation by the brain. A relation between oculomotor efficiency and reading skill has been shown in the literature. Frequently, these visual difficulties can be treated successfully with vision therapy.

Aptitude↗

PubMed1994

Detecting ocular and visual anomalies in a vision screening setting using the Lang stereotest.

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of random dot stereotests (RDS) as vision-screening procedures vary. In this investigation, 183 school-aged children (6-10 years) had their vision screened using the Modified Clinical Technique (20.7 percent referred) and the Lang stereotest (12.0 percent referred)--a type of RDS test not requiring dissociating glasses. For the populations as a whole, the Lang test demonstrated low sensitivity, 31.6 percent; yet specificity was high, 93.1 percent. The phi coefficient (phi) was +0.31 for use as a sole procedure that rose to +0.43 when combined with Snellen acuity and +0.60 when combined with refractive error. Test/retest reliability conducted on a subgroup of 27 children showed a correlation (r) of +0.69. In another subgroup of 17 multiply handicapped children, 41.2 percent were referred by the Lang stereotest; the sensitivity was 100 percent, specificity 90.9 percent and effectivity (phi) +0.88. While not as effective as reports of the Random Dot E stereotest in screening 6-10 year old children, results obtained with the Lang stereotest in the group of exceptional children are remarkable.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Borish Vectographic Nearpoint Card II contour and random dot stereoacuity in children.

PURPOSE: To determine the completion rate and normative values for the Borish Vectographic Nearpoint Card II (Stereo Optical Co, Inc, Chicago, III) contour and random dot stereoacuity tests in children. METHODS: Children had to pass a modified clinical screening technique to be included in the study to eliminate vision problems that could potentially affect stereoacuity. One hundred forty-six children in second through fourth grade (mean age: 8.27 years) from a middle class, suburban, primarily white, elementary school near Columbus, Ohio participated in this investigation. Random dot and contour stereoacuity were measured using the Borish Vectographic Nearpoint Card II. RESULTS: All of the children were able to identify which circle had disparity on the 1280 seconds of arc contour stereoacuity target, but six children were unable to perceive the "E" on the 1280 seconds of arc random dot target. The median stereoacuity was 80 seconds of arc on both the contour and random dot stereotests in this population. CONCLUSION: A high completion rate was found on both the contour and random dot stereoacuity tests. Median stereoacuities were higher on the Borish Vectographic Nearpoint Card II in this population than those previously reported with the Randot contour stereoacuity test and Randot Preschool random dot stereoacuity test in children.

Child↗