Reading Outcomes in Children With Vestibular Loss

NCT ID: NCT05414903

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-06-06
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-30

Brief Summary

Vestibular loss can co-occur with hearing loss causing dual sensory deficits. This project examines vestibular loss as a contributing factor to reading difficulties for children with hearing loss, where previously only the effects of hearing loss and subsequent language difficulties have been considered. These results are expected to influence the identification and habilitation of vestibular loss in children with hearing loss.

Detailed Description

Vestibular loss can co-occur with hearing loss causing dual sensory deficits. Unfortunately, children with hearing loss are rarely assessed for vestibular loss. As a result, the impact of co-morbid vestibular loss in children with hearing loss is unknown, particularly on academic and cognitive outcomes. While vestibular loss has been speculated to affect reading outcomes in children (Braswell 2006a; Snashall 1983; Tomaz 2014), the extent to which vestibular loss affects reading outcomes and the association between vestibular loss and reading is not understood. Therefore, the purpose of this proposal is to investigate the relationship between reading outcomes and vestibular loss in children with hearing loss. The vestibular system is responsible for decoding head movement and eliciting eye movements in an equal and opposite direction to maintain steady vision. It is not surprising therefore that vestibular loss results in reduced dynamic visual acuity - the ability to see clearly during head movement - (Rine 2003; Janky 2015); however, children with vestibular loss and reduced dynamic visual acuity also have reduced reading acuity - the smallest print size that can be read - and require larger print size for reading compared to peers with normal hearing (Braswell 2006a). Thus, Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that vestibular loss results in visual acuity deficits due to vestibulo-ocular reflex and cognitive deficits, which could impact reading. Theoretically, the Simple View of Reading (Gough 1986) suggests that reading comprehension can be explained by decoding and language comprehension abilities; however, these two factors do not account for all the variance in reading comprehension (Aaron 1999). In children with hearing loss, reading is affected by language, phonological processing, and auditory access; however, these factors alone do not fully explain the variance. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that after controlling for variables known to contribute to reading performance (i.e., language, phonological processing, auditory access, etc.), vestibular loss will account for a significant amount of the variance in reading outcomes. The long-term goals of this research program are to define the developmental and academic impact of comorbid vestibular loss and then develop rehabilitative strategies that mitigate negative outcomes. The proposed work will provide a better understanding of vestibular loss as a contributing factor to reading difficulties for children with hearing loss, where previously only the effects of hearing loss have been considered. The proposed work will improve the scientific understanding of reading deficits in children with hearing loss and could lead to new rehabilitative interventions for reading in children with hearing loss by considering vestibular loss, a factor that has until now been ignored. A scaffolded training plan has been devised to enhance the investigator's understanding of literacy outcomes in children with hearing loss, cognition, neuroanatomy, development, and the ability to incorporate eye tracking to address the hypotheses.

Conditions

Vestibular Disorder; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Children with Normal Hearing

typically developing children with normal hearing (thresholds ≤ 20 dB HL from 0.25 to 8 kHz) age-matched to the children with hearing loss

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dynamic Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

First, participants will report the direction of the open portion of a "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down) with the head still. Ten targets at 5 acuity levels (LogMAR -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, corresponding to Snellen visual acuity of 20/10, 20/20, 20/40, 20/100, 20/200) will be identified. Next, a rate sensor will be placed on the subject's head in the plane of the horizontal canals and htDVA will be measured. The "Landolt C" will be presented automatically when the examiner has moved the subject's head \> 150˚/sec. htDVA scores will be the LogMAR at which the subject fails to correctly identify 50% of the visual targets or reaches a LogMAR of -0.3. The overall htDVA score is calculated by subtracting the head still LogMAR from the htDVA LogMAR. htDVA scores will be calculated for right and left head movements separately.

Reading Outcomes

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The TOSWRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children get 3 minutes to identify as many words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive unrelated words.

The TOSCRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children are allowed 3 minutes to identify as many contextually related words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive words.

The TILLS will be used to assess reading comprehension. Each subject will read a short passage and answer 3 yes/no questions assessing reading comprehension.

A computer based MNREAD Test will be used to assess reading acuity, critical print size and Reading Accessibility Index.

During the TILLS and MNRead test, eye tracking (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker) will be used to record fixation duration, saccade length, regression frequency, and total time spent.

Static Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The subject's head will be in a headrest. Static visual acuity will be assessed in 9 domains (3 levels of visual target complexity x 3 levels of presentation complexity). The 3 levels of visual target complexity are identifying: 1) colors, 2) the direction of the open prongs of the "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down), which does not require alphabet knowledge, and 3) single letters (C, D, H, K, O, N, S, R, V, and Z; NIH Toolbox, Li 2014)). The 3 levels of presentation complexity are identifying: 1) 1-visual optotype, 2) a successive row of 5 visual optotypes flashed for 3 seconds (Hillman 1999), and 3) successive rows of optotypes in paragraph form as quickly as possible (i.e., rapid automatized naming). Outcome parameters will be %-correct at each acuity level and reaction time. Fixation duration, saccade length, saccade frequency, regression frequency, and total time spent will be collected via an eye tracker (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker \[SR Research, EyeLink, Ontario, Canada\]).

Children with hearing loss and normal vestibular function

Children with hearing loss will have a pure-tone average (PTA) \> 65 dB and normal vestibular evaluation.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dynamic Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

First, participants will report the direction of the open portion of a "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down) with the head still. Ten targets at 5 acuity levels (LogMAR -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, corresponding to Snellen visual acuity of 20/10, 20/20, 20/40, 20/100, 20/200) will be identified. Next, a rate sensor will be placed on the subject's head in the plane of the horizontal canals and htDVA will be measured. The "Landolt C" will be presented automatically when the examiner has moved the subject's head \> 150˚/sec. htDVA scores will be the LogMAR at which the subject fails to correctly identify 50% of the visual targets or reaches a LogMAR of -0.3. The overall htDVA score is calculated by subtracting the head still LogMAR from the htDVA LogMAR. htDVA scores will be calculated for right and left head movements separately.

Reading Outcomes

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The TOSWRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children get 3 minutes to identify as many words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive unrelated words.

The TOSCRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children are allowed 3 minutes to identify as many contextually related words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive words.

The TILLS will be used to assess reading comprehension. Each subject will read a short passage and answer 3 yes/no questions assessing reading comprehension.

A computer based MNREAD Test will be used to assess reading acuity, critical print size and Reading Accessibility Index.

During the TILLS and MNRead test, eye tracking (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker) will be used to record fixation duration, saccade length, regression frequency, and total time spent.

Static Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The subject's head will be in a headrest. Static visual acuity will be assessed in 9 domains (3 levels of visual target complexity x 3 levels of presentation complexity). The 3 levels of visual target complexity are identifying: 1) colors, 2) the direction of the open prongs of the "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down), which does not require alphabet knowledge, and 3) single letters (C, D, H, K, O, N, S, R, V, and Z; NIH Toolbox, Li 2014)). The 3 levels of presentation complexity are identifying: 1) 1-visual optotype, 2) a successive row of 5 visual optotypes flashed for 3 seconds (Hillman 1999), and 3) successive rows of optotypes in paragraph form as quickly as possible (i.e., rapid automatized naming). Outcome parameters will be %-correct at each acuity level and reaction time. Fixation duration, saccade length, saccade frequency, regression frequency, and total time spent will be collected via an eye tracker (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker \[SR Research, EyeLink, Ontario, Canada\]).

children with hearing loss and vestibular loss

Children with hearing loss will have a pure-tone average (PTA) \> 65 dB and and varying degree of vestibular loss (i.e., unilateral or bilateral).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dynamic Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

First, participants will report the direction of the open portion of a "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down) with the head still. Ten targets at 5 acuity levels (LogMAR -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, corresponding to Snellen visual acuity of 20/10, 20/20, 20/40, 20/100, 20/200) will be identified. Next, a rate sensor will be placed on the subject's head in the plane of the horizontal canals and htDVA will be measured. The "Landolt C" will be presented automatically when the examiner has moved the subject's head \> 150˚/sec. htDVA scores will be the LogMAR at which the subject fails to correctly identify 50% of the visual targets or reaches a LogMAR of -0.3. The overall htDVA score is calculated by subtracting the head still LogMAR from the htDVA LogMAR. htDVA scores will be calculated for right and left head movements separately.

Reading Outcomes

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The TOSWRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children get 3 minutes to identify as many words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive unrelated words.

The TOSCRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children are allowed 3 minutes to identify as many contextually related words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive words.

The TILLS will be used to assess reading comprehension. Each subject will read a short passage and answer 3 yes/no questions assessing reading comprehension.

A computer based MNREAD Test will be used to assess reading acuity, critical print size and Reading Accessibility Index.

During the TILLS and MNRead test, eye tracking (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker) will be used to record fixation duration, saccade length, regression frequency, and total time spent.

Static Visual Acuity

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The subject's head will be in a headrest. Static visual acuity will be assessed in 9 domains (3 levels of visual target complexity x 3 levels of presentation complexity). The 3 levels of visual target complexity are identifying: 1) colors, 2) the direction of the open prongs of the "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down), which does not require alphabet knowledge, and 3) single letters (C, D, H, K, O, N, S, R, V, and Z; NIH Toolbox, Li 2014)). The 3 levels of presentation complexity are identifying: 1) 1-visual optotype, 2) a successive row of 5 visual optotypes flashed for 3 seconds (Hillman 1999), and 3) successive rows of optotypes in paragraph form as quickly as possible (i.e., rapid automatized naming). Outcome parameters will be %-correct at each acuity level and reaction time. Fixation duration, saccade length, saccade frequency, regression frequency, and total time spent will be collected via an eye tracker (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker \[SR Research, EyeLink, Ontario, Canada\]).

Interventions

Dynamic Visual Acuity

First, participants will report the direction of the open portion of a "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down) with the head still. Ten targets at 5 acuity levels (LogMAR -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1.0, corresponding to Snellen visual acuity of 20/10, 20/20, 20/40, 20/100, 20/200) will be identified. Next, a rate sensor will be placed on the subject's head in the plane of the horizontal canals and htDVA will be measured. The "Landolt C" will be presented automatically when the examiner has moved the subject's head \> 150˚/sec. htDVA scores will be the LogMAR at which the subject fails to correctly identify 50% of the visual targets or reaches a LogMAR of -0.3. The overall htDVA score is calculated by subtracting the head still LogMAR from the htDVA LogMAR. htDVA scores will be calculated for right and left head movements separately.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Reading Outcomes

The TOSWRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children get 3 minutes to identify as many words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive unrelated words.

The TOSCRF will be used to assess reading fluency. Children are allowed 3 minutes to identify as many contextually related words as possible by drawing boundaries between successive words.

The TILLS will be used to assess reading comprehension. Each subject will read a short passage and answer 3 yes/no questions assessing reading comprehension.

A computer based MNREAD Test will be used to assess reading acuity, critical print size and Reading Accessibility Index.

During the TILLS and MNRead test, eye tracking (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker) will be used to record fixation duration, saccade length, regression frequency, and total time spent.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Static Visual Acuity

The subject's head will be in a headrest. Static visual acuity will be assessed in 9 domains (3 levels of visual target complexity x 3 levels of presentation complexity). The 3 levels of visual target complexity are identifying: 1) colors, 2) the direction of the open prongs of the "Landolt C" (right, left, up, or down), which does not require alphabet knowledge, and 3) single letters (C, D, H, K, O, N, S, R, V, and Z; NIH Toolbox, Li 2014)). The 3 levels of presentation complexity are identifying: 1) 1-visual optotype, 2) a successive row of 5 visual optotypes flashed for 3 seconds (Hillman 1999), and 3) successive rows of optotypes in paragraph form as quickly as possible (i.e., rapid automatized naming). Outcome parameters will be %-correct at each acuity level and reaction time. Fixation duration, saccade length, saccade frequency, regression frequency, and total time spent will be collected via an eye tracker (Eye Link 1000+ eye tracker \[SR Research, EyeLink, Ontario, Canada\]).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

The Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency, 2nd Ed (TOSWRF); The Test of Silent Contextual Reading Fluency, 2nd Ed (TOSCRF); The Test of Integrated Language and Literacy Skills (TILLS): Reading Comprehension subtest; MNREAD Test

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children will be required to have nonverbal problem-solving/intelligence scores within 1.5 SD of the mean (mean = 100, SD = 15, 1.5 SD of mean = 77 - 123).
• Children with normal hearing must have thresholds ≤20 dB HL from 0.25 to 8 kHz.
• Children with hearing loss must have pure-tone averages > 65 dB HL.

Exclusion Criteria

• Fail a vision screen at 20/30
• Have autism, blindness, or other optic disorders, cerebral palsy, significant neurologic involvement, uncorrectable vision problems, and intellectual disability.
• Children with nonverbal problem-solving/intelligence scores > 123 or < 77 will be excluded.
• Each participant's current medications will be reviewed. Children taking medications known to result in oculomotor slowing will be excluded (i.e., anti-depressants, vestibular suppressants, sedatives, etc).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 7 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Father Flanagan's Boys' Home

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kristen Janky

Scientist II; Director, Vestibular and Balance Laboratory

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Kristen L Janky, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Father Flanagan's Boys' Home

Locations

Boys Town National Research Hospital

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Kristen L Janky, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 15313556535

Email: kristen.janky@boystown.org

Jessie N Patterson, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 15313556333

Email: jessie.patterson@boystown.org

Facility Contacts

Kristen L Janky, PhD

Role: primary

References

Braswell J, Rine RM. Evidence that vestibular hypofunction affects reading acuity in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2006 Nov;70(11):1957-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2006.07.013. Epub 2006 Aug 30.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 16945429 (View on PubMed)

Snashall SE. Vestibular function tests in children. J R Soc Med. 1983 Nov;76(11):985-6. doi: 10.1177/014107688307601125. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 20894507 (View on PubMed)

Tomaz A, Gananca MM, Garcia AP, Kessler N, Caovilla HH. Postural control in underachieving students. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2014 Apr;80(2):105-10. doi: 10.5935/1808-8694.20140024. English, Portuguese.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24830967 (View on PubMed)

Rine RM, Braswell J. A clinical test of dynamic visual acuity for children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2003 Nov;67(11):1195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2003.07.004.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 14597370 (View on PubMed)

Janky KL, Givens D. Vestibular, Visual Acuity, and Balance Outcomes in Children With Cochlear Implants: A Preliminary Report. Ear Hear. 2015 Nov-Dec;36(6):e364-72. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000194.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26182202 (View on PubMed)

Aaron PG, Joshi M, Williams KA. Not all reading disabilities are alike. J Learn Disabil. 1999 Mar-Apr;32(2):120-37. doi: 10.1177/002221949903200203.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15499713 (View on PubMed)

Li C, Beaumont JL, Rine RM, Slotkin J, Schubert MC. Normative Scores for the NIH Toolbox Dynamic Visual Acuity Test from 3 to 85 Years. Front Neurol. 2014 Oct 30;5:223. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00223. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25400618 (View on PubMed)

Hillman EJ, Bloomberg JJ, McDonald PV, Cohen HS. Dynamic visual acuity while walking in normals and labyrinthine-deficient patients. J Vestib Res. 1999;9(1):49-57.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 10334016 (View on PubMed)

Gough, PB, Tunmer, WE (1986). Decoding, reading, and disability. Remedial and Special Education, 7(1), 6-10.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

12-13-XP

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id