A Computerised Test for Assessing the Early Reading Skills

University of Mogi das Cruzes

Status: Completed

Conditions: Learning Disorders

Treatments: Other: computerised test; Other: synthetic test

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02797301

0135.0.237.000-10

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study was to develop a computerised test with an adapted peripheral to assess the emerging literacy knowledge of children with mobility difficulties. The software was implemented using a game-like design controllable by a peripheral device without needing fine movements.

Full description

Conventional tests for assessing the early reading skills of preschool children on school entry are not accessible to children with mobility limitations. This paper presents a game-like computerised test featuring an appealing scenario that is accessible to these children. It was developed on a platform that creates 2D vector graphics and contains three phases of interactive content accessible through an adapted peripheral. Conventional tests were also used to validate the effectiveness of the game. The two types of tests had the same degree of predictive power when completed by thirty three preschool children without mobility impairment.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex

Ages: 4 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• G1 and G2: preschool children; no motor difficulties and normal school performance.
• G3: with moderate mobility impairment; similar cognitive ages and notions of writing to the participants of groups G1 and G2; children between seven and seventeen years old.

Exclusion criteria

• G1 and G2: children who often miss classes; children between four and seven years.
• G3: no moderate mobility impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 3 patient groups

synthetic test & computerised test

Experimental group

Description:

Seventeen preschool children (G1), with no motor impairments, from a private school. The children in G1 performed the synthetic test before the computerised test.

Treatment:

Other: computerised test

Other: synthetic test

computerised test & synthetic test

Experimental group

Description:

Sixteen preschool children (G2), with no motor impairments, from a private school. The children in G2 performed the computerised test before the synthetic test.

Treatment:

Other: computerised test

Other: synthetic test

computerised test

Experimental group

Description:

Seven volunteers (G3), two males and five females, with moderate mobility impairment, patients from the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic.

Treatment:

Other: computerised test