THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408300195
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: E10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
An Old Dominion University researcher and a Norfolk optometrist are zeroing in on the link between vision problems and illiteracy.
In their latest research, published earlier this year in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry, Drs. Roger Johnson and Joel Zaba found that illiterate adults had far more trouble at tracking, or moving their eyes across a printed page, than did a comparable group of graduate students. The illiterate adults also had a harder time seeing clearly at a near-reading distance, a skill known as visual acuity.
In fact, three out of four of the 54 illiterate adults who participated in the study failed one or more of the tests administered in the New York State Optometric Association Vision Screening Battery.
In comparison, all of the graduate students in the study passed these tests.
As part of the screening battery, subjects were tested on their color vision, ability to integrate two separate images into one, binocular depth perception, triangular convergence, visual acuity at various distances, and refractive problems that interfere with focusing.
They had the most difficulty, however, with tracking and seeing at a distance of between 13 to 16 inches.
``The beautiful thing about this discovery is that these problems can be corrected,'' said Zaba, a Norfolk optometrist who is nationally recognized for his work in learning disabilities. Zaba also serves as the president of the Tidewater Literacy Council.
``Sometimes all it takes is some simple therapy techniques; sometimes just a different lens prescription,'' he said. ``Of course, correcting these problems won't teach someone to read. But it will give them the visual ability to read.''
Two years ago, Zaba and Johnson, an associate professor of educational curriculum and instruction at ODU, published the results of their initial study, which established a significant link between vision and illiteracy.
As part of that research, the two developed a prototype screening test that can be used by trained laypeople to detect vision problems. Their prototype was only the second such test available in the country, Johnson said.
In the current study, the two researchers used a group of 54 graduate students as a control group to isolate the characteristics of vision that create learning problems.
Johnson and Zaba have just completed a third study targeting the vision problems of at-risk college students. They hope to publish the results this fall. The two researchers plan future studies to examine the vision of juvenile delinquents, prison inmates, Job Corps applicants and people in various workplaces. By looking at adults who are ``functionally illiterate,'' Johnson and Zaba hope to further define the areas of vision that cause learning problems.
Said Zaba: ``We were surprised that we found such a high incidence of vision problems in the adult population. If you're a bright person and listen, you'll do well. A lot of people get through high school, but when they go to college and the teachers say, `Go home and read two books and come back and we'll discuss it,' then they start to have a difficult time. There comes a point when you have to use the visual system to learn.''
Discovering exactly what visual problems lead to learning problems ``is an exciting journey,'' Johnson added.
``This is a wide-open field,'' said the specialist in educational psychology.'' (Researchers) really haven't done anything on it. But now, educators, optometrists and psychologists are starting to work together. It's a problem that can be solved.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIMMIE WALKER
Dr. Joel Zaba, left, and Dr. Roger Johnson's research was published
earlier this year in the Journal of Behavioral Optometry.
by CNB