article review 32

Measuring reading performance

Improving reading ability is a high priority for patients threatened with the loss of vision. Reading speed is a strong predictor of visual ability and vision-related quality of life. From this, we would expect reading performance to be one of the more important outcome measures for judging the effectiveness of therapeutic and vision rehabilitation. But that is not yet the case. In the century and a half since the introduction of Jaeger’s first clinical reading test, there have been dozens, if not hundreds, of different reading tests. But there is not yet a consensus on the best way to evaluate reading performance, as there is for visual acuity (log-

MAR letter charts) and contrast sensitivity (variable contrast letter charts). But most tests have settled on a set of common features:

1.       reading speed is the key outcome variable, with tests of comprehension or reading endurance reserved for specific research questions,

2.      reading aloud is preferred for ease of scoring,

3.      reading speed is measured for meaningful text even though this may allow greater influence of cognitive factors.