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Saccadic eye movements and reading difficulties

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Abstract

Saccadic eye movements of 14 children with reading difficulties and of 14 normal readers were compared before and after the problem readers underwent a seven month individual tutoring program. At pretesting the problem readers showed a rate of eye movements that was markedly lower than that of the normal readers whose rate they attained and surpassed at completion of the remedial reading program. Results are discussed in terms of the presumed function of saccadic eye movements and their relation to reading, attention, and information gathering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, State University of New York, 11790, Stony Brook, New York

    Julia R. Heiman &  Alan O. Ross

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  1. Julia R. Heiman
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  2. Alan O. Ross
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Additional information

This study was supported by grant OEG-2-2-2BO24 from the National Institute of Education. The valuable assistance of Mark J. Fischer and the help of Sandra Armel, Steven Rayack, and Betty White are gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Lowey, of the Three Village School District and particularly Mr. Hanrahan, Principal of Main Street School, greatly facilitated our work and we are most grateful.

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Heiman, J.R., Ross, A.O. Saccadic eye movements and reading difficulties. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2, 53–61 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919354

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00919354

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