Date of Award
2008
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The present study examines the clinical utility of eye movement tracking in the differential diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Inattentive Type, ADHD Combined Type, and Reading Disability (RD). Conservative estimates of the overlap between ADHD and RD range from 10-45%. It is anticipated that eye movement tracking will provide a better understanding of the underlying deficits that potentially contribute to reading difficulties among children with ADHD and RD. Participants included 79 children: 7 diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type, 24 diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type, 10 that met criteria for RD, and 38 Control children. Subjects diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive Type were expected to display a pattern of eye movement characterized by vertical saccades and slower reading speed. ADHD Combined Type subjects were also expected to exhibit vertical saccades but reading speed was expected to be comparable to the Control group. Subjects with RD were expected to display slower reading speeds, longer fixations, more frequent fixations, and shorter saccades than all other groups. Results suggest a statistically significant difference in the proportion of left to right saccades between both ADHD subtypes and the Control group. Variables such as number of fixations, fixation duration, and total read time may also have potential in differentiating clinical and control groups. Further investigation is needed to determine if eye movement tracking may be useful in distinguishing between ADHD and RD children that display reading difficulties.
Recommended Citation
Deans, Pamela A., "Use Of Eye Movement Tracking In The Differential Diagnosis Of Adhd Inattentive Type, Adhd Combined Type, And Reading Disability" (2008). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1307.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1307