The effect of online visual games on visual perception, oculomotor, and balance skills of children with developmental dyslexia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of online visual games on the balance, visual perception, and oculomotor skills of children with developmental dyslexia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, 50 children with developmental dyslexia, aged 7 to 11 years, were recruited from rehabilitation centers in Tehran, Iran, using a convenience sampling strategy. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: intervention (25) and control (25), with close matching based on sex, age, IQ, and type of disease. The interventions consisted of web-based online computer games focusing on visual perception and oculomotor skills. Outcome measures included the Test of Visual Perception Skills-Revised, the Pediatric Balance Scale, and videonystagmography. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV and the Reading and Dyslexia Test were used to evaluate IQ and reading skills, respectively.
Results: The intervention group exhibited significant post-intervention improvements in the Test of Visual Perception Skills-Revised, tracking gain, saccade latency, and saccade velocity scores (all P < 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no significant differences in these tests in pre- and post-intervention (all P > 0.05). Notably, post-intervention comparisons between the groups revealed significant differences in smooth pursuit eye movements (P < 0.001), saccade latency (P = 0.027), and saccade velocity (P < 0.001). The Pediatric Balance Scale scores remained unchanged in both groups post-intervention (intervention: P = 0.317; control: P = 0.999). Game face validity was affirmed with impact scores above 1.5 for all items, suggesting that the games were straightforward, clear, and relevant.
Conclusion: Online visual games enhanced oculomotor and visual perception skills in children with dyslexia but did not influence balance skills.
(© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)