scholarly journals Insights from a dyslexia simulation font: Can we simulate reading struggles of individuals with dyslexia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoey Stark ◽  
Léon Franzen ◽  
Aaron Paul Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Perceptual Experience ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Reading Assessment ◽  
Beginning Readers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Reading Texts

Individuals with dyslexia struggle at explaining what it is like to have dyslexia and how they perceive letters and words differently. This led the designer Daniel Britton to create a font that aims to simulate the perceptual experience of how effortful reading can be for individuals with dyslexia (http://danielbritton.info/dyslexia). This font removes forty percent of each character stroke with the aim of increasing reading effort, and in turn empathy and understanding for individuals with dyslexia. However, its efficacy has not yet been empirically tested. In the present study, participants without dyslexia read ten standardized texts from a commercial reading assessment, five texts in Times New Roman and five in the dyslexia simulation font. We compared this group to individuals with dyslexia reading texts from the same reading assessment tool in Times New Roman font. Results show that the simulation font exaggerated the difficulty of reading, surpassing that experienced by adults with dyslexia, as reflected in increased reading time and overall number of eye movements. Reading appeared to be even more laborious for readers reading the simulation font compared to individuals with dyslexia. Future research could compare the performance of the Daniel Britton font against a sample of beginning readers with dyslexia as well as seek to design and empirically test an adapted simulation font with an increased preserved percentage of letter strokes.

scholarly journals Discrimination of the Cognitive Profiles of MCI and Depression using the KBNA

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 670-677
Author(s):  
Michelle C. E. Monette ◽  
Larry Leach
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Subjective Memory Complaints ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Memory Complaints ◽  
Neurocognitive Assessment ◽  
Reliable Assessment ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract:Objective:The current study sought to determine if the Kaplan-Baycrest Neurocognitive Assessment (KBNA) was capable of discriminating individuals with subjective memory complaints associated with depression from individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods:Scores on 12 subtests of the KBNA were compared for 27 participants with MCI and 28 participants being treated for depression using Bonferroni correct between-group comparisons for each subtest. KBNA subtest scores were corrected for age and education.Results:Significant between-group differences were obtained on six subtests with large effect sizes (Cohen's d) ranging from 1.19 - 1.58. The six subtests involved encoding and delayed episodic memory for verbal and visual information. Using logistic regression analysis, five subtests of the KBNA were able to correctly classify 96.4% of study participants.Conclusion:The results from this preliminary investigation indicate that the KBNA has the potential to serve as a brief and reliable assessment tool capable of distinguishing individuals with subjective memory complaints associated with depression from individuals with MCI in a clinical setting. Limitations of the current study and future research are discussed.

Speech-Language Pathologists' Comfort Level With Use of Term “Stuttering” During Evaluations

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 841-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney T. Byrd ◽  
Danielle Werle ◽  
Kenneth O. St. Louis
Keyword(s):  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Academic Experiences ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Comfort Levels ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Evaluation Feedback ◽  
Study Participants

Purpose Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) anecdotally report concern that their interactions with a child who stutters, including even the use of the term “stuttering,” might contribute to negative affective, behavioral, and cognitive consequences. This study investigated SLPs' comfort in providing a diagnosis of “stuttering” to children's parents/caregivers, as compared to other commonly diagnosed developmental communication disorders. Method One hundred forty-one school-based SLPs participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two vignettes detailing an evaluation feedback session. Then, participants rated their level of comfort disclosing diagnostic terms to parents/caregivers. Participants provided rationale for their ratings and answered various questions regarding academic and clinical experiences to identify factors that may have influenced ratings. Results SLPs were significantly less likely to feel comfortable using the term “stuttering” compared to other communication disorders. Thematic responses revealed increased experience with a specific speech-language population was related to higher comfort levels with using its diagnostic term. Additionally, knowing a person who stutters predicted greater comfort levels as compared to other clinical and academic experiences. Conclusions SLPs were significantly less comfortable relaying the diagnosis “stuttering” to families compared to other speech-language diagnoses. Given the potential deleterious effects of avoidance of this term for both parents and children who stutter, future research should explore whether increased exposure to persons who stutter of all ages systematically improves comfort level with the use of this term.

scholarly journals Concussion in para sport: the first position statement of the Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group

2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-103696
Author(s):  
Richard Weiler ◽  
Cheri Blauwet ◽  
David Clarke ◽  
Kristine Dalton ◽  
Wayne Derman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Statement ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Concussion Management ◽  
Rule Changes ◽  
Specific Rule ◽  
And Performance

Concussion is a frequent injury in many sports and is also common in para athletes. However, there is a paucity of concussion research related to para sport, and prior International Concussion in Sport (CIS) consensus papers have not substantively addressed this population. To remedy this and to improve concussion care provided to para athletes, the concussion in para sport (CIPS) multidisciplinary expert group was created. This group analysed and discussed in-depth para athlete-specific issues within the established key clinical domains of the current (2017) consensus statement on CIS. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group held all meetings by video conferencing. The existing Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) for the immediate on-field and office-based off-field assessment of concussion was evaluated as part of this process, to identify any para athlete-specific concerns. Regular preparticipation and periodic health examinations are essential to determine a baseline reference point for concussion symptoms but pose additional challenges for the interpreting clinician. Further considerations for concussion management for the para athlete are required within the remove, rest, reconsider and refer consensus statement framework. Considering return to sport (RTS), the 2017 CIS consensus statement has limitations when considering the RTS of the para athlete. Case-by-case decision making related to RTS following concussion is imperative for para athletes. Additional challenges exist for the evaluation and management of concussion in para athletes. There is a need for greater understanding of existing knowledge gaps and attitudes towards concussion among athlete medical staff, coaches and para athletes. Future research should investigate the use and performance of common assessment tools in the para athlete population to better guide their clinical application and inform potential modifications. Concussion prevention strategies and sport-specific rule changes, such as in Para Alpine Skiing and Cerebral Palsy Football, also should be carefully considered to reduce the occurrence of concussion in para athletes.

scholarly journals Tri-Response Police, Ambulance, Mental Health Crisis Models in Reducing Involuntary Detentions of Mentally Ill People: Protocol for a Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8230
Author(s):  
Julia Heffernan ◽  
Ewan McDonald ◽  
Elizabeth Hughes ◽  
Richard Gray
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Response Models

Police, ambulance and mental health tri-response services are a relatively new model of responding to people experiencing mental health crisis in the community, but limited evidence exists examining their efficacy. To date there have been no systematic reviews that have examined the association between the tri-response model and rates of involuntary detentions. A systematic review examining co-response models demonstrated possible reduction in involuntary detention, however, recommended further research. The aim of this protocol is to describe how we will systematically review the evidence base around the relationship of the police, ambulance mental health tri-response models in reducing involuntary detentions. We will search health, policing and grey literature databases and include clinical evaluations of any design. Risk of bias will be determined using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool and a narrative synthesis will be undertaken to synthesis key themes. Risk of bias and extracted data will be summarized in tables and results synthesis tabulated to identify patterns within the included studies. The findings will inform future research into the effectiveness of tri-response police, ambulance, and mental health models in reducing involuntary detentions.

373 Historical Use of Substances for Insomnia Impacts Current Beliefs about Hypnotic Medications

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A148-A149
Author(s):  
Jessica Dietch ◽  
Norah Simpson ◽  
Joshua Tutek ◽  
Isabelle Tully ◽  
Elizabeth Rangel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Medication ◽  
Stepped Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prescription Medications ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Multiple Treatment ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Beliefs About Medications ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between current beliefs about hypnotic medications and historical use of prescription hypnotic medications or non-prescription substances for sleep (i.e., over the counter [OTC] medications, alcohol, and cannabis). Methods Participants were 142 middle age and older adults with insomnia (M age = 62.9 [SD = 8.1]; 71.1% female) enrolled in the RCT of the Effectiveness of Stepped-Care Sleep Therapy In General Practice (RESTING) study. Participants reported on history of substances they have tried for insomnia and completed the Beliefs about Medications Questionnaire-Specific with two subscales assessing beliefs about 1) the necessity for hypnotics, and 2) concerns about potential adverse consequences of hypnotics. Participants were grouped based on whether they had used no substances for sleep (No Subs, 11.6%), only prescription medications (Rx Only, 9.5%), only non-prescription substances (NonRx Only, 26.6%), or both prescription and non-prescription substances (Both, 52.3%). Results Sixty-one percent of the sample had used prescription medication for sleep and 79% had used non-prescription substances (74% OTC medication, 23% alcohol, 34% cannabis). The greater number of historical substances endorsed, the stronger the beliefs about necessity of hypnotics, F(1,140)=23.3, p<.001, but not about concerns. Substance groups differed significantly on necessity beliefs, F(3,1)=10.68, p<.001; post-hocs revealed the Both group had stronger beliefs than the No and NonRx Only groups. Substance groups also differed significantly on the concerns subscale, F(3,1)=6.68, p<.001; post-hocs revealed the NonRx Only group had stronger harm beliefs than the other three groups. Conclusion The majority of the sample had used both prescription and non-prescription substances to treat insomnia. Historical use of substances for treating insomnia was associated with current beliefs about hypnotics. Individuals who had used both prescription and non-prescription substances for sleep in the past had stronger beliefs about needing hypnotics to sleep at present, which may reflect a pattern of multiple treatment failures. Individuals who had only tried non-prescription substances for sleep may have specifically sought alternative substances due to concerns about using hypnotics. Future research should seek to understand the impact of treatment history on engagement in and benefit from non-medication-based treatment for insomnia. Support (if any) 1R01AG057500; 2T32MH019938-26A1

scholarly journals mHealth Interventions to Address Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5798
Author(s):  
Selina Khoo ◽  
Najihah Mohbin ◽  
Payam Ansari ◽  
Mahfoodha Al-Kitani ◽  
Andre Matthias Müller
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Multicomponent Interventions

This review aimed to identify, evaluate, and synthesize the scientific literature on mobile health (mHealth) interventions to promote physical activity (PA) or reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in cancer survivors. We searched six databases from 2000 to 13 April 2020 for controlled and non-controlled trials published in any language. We conducted best evidence syntheses on controlled trials to assess the strength of the evidence. All 31 interventions included in this review measured PA outcomes, with 10 of them also evaluating SB outcomes. Most study participants were adults/older adults with various cancer types. The majority (n = 25) of studies implemented multicomponent interventions, with activity trackers being the most commonly used mHealth technology. There is strong evidence for mHealth interventions, including personal contact components, in increasing moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA among cancer survivors. However, there is inconclusive evidence to support mHealth interventions in increasing total activity and step counts. There is inconclusive evidence on SB potentially due to the limited number of studies. mHealth interventions that include personal contact components are likely more effective in increasing PA than mHealth interventions without such components. Future research should address social factors in mHealth interventions for PA and SB in cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Computational Techniques for Eye Movements Analysis towards Supporting Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Beltrán ◽  
Mireya S. García-Vázquez ◽  
Jenny Benois-Pineau ◽  
Luis Miguel Gutierrez-Robledo ◽  
Jean-François Dartigues
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Eye Movements ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Tools And Techniques

An opportune early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) would help to overcome symptoms and improve the quality of life for AD patients. Research studies have identified early manifestations of AD that occur years before the diagnosis. For instance, eye movements of people with AD in different tasks differ from eye movements of control subjects. In this review, we present a summary and evolution of research approaches that use eye tracking technology and computational analysis to measure and compare eye movements under different tasks and experiments. Furthermore, this review is targeted to the feasibility of pioneer work on developing computational tools and techniques to analyze eye movements under naturalistic scenarios. We describe the progress in technology that can enhance the analysis of eye movements everywhere while subjects perform their daily activities and give future research directions to develop tools to support early AD diagnosis through analysis of eye movements.

The Effect of In-School Saccadic Training on Reading Fluency and Comprehension in First and Second Grade Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dodick ◽  
Amaal J. Starling ◽  
Jennifer Wethe ◽  
Yi Pang ◽  
Leonard V. Messner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Second Grade Students ◽  
Fluency And Comprehension ◽  
Physical Foundation ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
And Control

Efficient eye movements provide a physical foundation for proficient reading skills. We investigated the effect of in-school saccadic training on reading performance. In this cross-over design, study participants (n = 327, 165 males; mean age [SD]: 7 y 6 mo [1y 1 mo]) were randomized into treatment and control groups, who then underwent eighteen 20-minute training sessions over 5 weeks using King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program Software. Pre- and posttreatment reading assessments included fluency, comprehension, and rapid number naming performance. The treatment group had significantly greater improvement than the control group in fluency (6.2% vs 3.6%, P = .0277) and comprehension (7.5% vs 1.5%, P = .0002). The high-needs student group significantly improved in fluency ( P < .001) and comprehension ( P < .001). We hypothesize these improvements to be attributed to the repetitive practice of reading-related eye movements, shifting visuospatial attention, and visual processing. Consideration should be given to teaching the physical act of reading within the early education curriculum.

scholarly journals Eye movements in vocabulary research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Pellicer-Sánchez ◽  
Anna Siyanova
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Auditory Input ◽  
Major Research ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Formulaic Sequences ◽  
Online Processing ◽  
Research Findings

Abstract The field of vocabulary research is witnessing a growing interest in the use of eye-tracking to investigate topics that have traditionally been examined using offline measures, providing new insights into the processing and learning of vocabulary. During an eye-tracking experiment, participants’ eye movements are recorded while they attend to written or auditory input, resulting in a rich record of online processing behaviour. Because of its many benefits, eye-tracking is becoming a major research technique in vocabulary research. However, before this emerging trend of eye-tracking based vocabulary research continues to proliferate, it is important to step back and reflect on what current studies have shown about the processing and learning of vocabulary, and the ways in which we can use the technique in future research. To this aim, the present paper provides a comprehensive overview of current eye-tracking research findings, both in terms of the processing and learning of single words and formulaic sequences. Current research gaps and potential avenues for future research are also discussed.

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