Repeatability and Learning Curve Effects of the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) Test In Young Adults.

The Developmental Eye Movement test (DEM) is used clinically for the assessment of
eye movements in patients with presumed oculomotor deficiency. Research in this area
suggests an association between poor scores on the DEM and inefficient reading? Many
of these patients go on to receive vision therapy directed at improving eye movements.
Although, studies have been done showing the effects of attention and working memory
on DEM results3 , few studies have demonstrated the influence ofbinocular summation or learning curve effects. These findings may have potential significance for vision
therapists using the DEM to track oculomotor skill progress. The aim of the current
study is twofold. First, to evaluate learning curve effects on DEM test results. Second, to
study plausible effects of binocular summation on test resuts. A group of college students (N=38) in the age range 19 to 31 were included in the study. Subjects were pre-screened for adequate visual acuity and oculomotor skills. All participants were required to perform the DEM test monocularly and binocularly. The order of testing (monocular or
binocular) was randomized. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the time period over which
the learning effect sustains, testing was repeated over the following time intervals -4
hours, two days and one week. Repeatability of test results was analyzed using the
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient in a one way random effects model. We hope that
findings from this study will elicit the role of binocular factors and learning effects on
DEM test results. This in tum can have many significant clinical implications in the use
of this test in populations with saccadic and visual processing deficits.