Effects of sensory-motor intervention in reading and motor tasks in dyslexic children

• Grant number: 23/02947-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: José Angelo Barela
• Grantee: Crislaine da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Reading is not a trivial task, which involves several cognitive aspects and mechanisms in order to identify letter and words. An important mechanism is the appropriate eye movements. Several strategies have been proposed and used aiming to reduce and minimize reading and writing difficulties in dyslexic children. Recently, we have demonstrated that the use of a green overlay improved reading performance in dyslexic children. Reading performance also improved due to a computer-based oculomotor program. Finally, specific motor activities seem also to improve reading performance and eye movements in dyslexic children. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a sensory-motor program intervention in reading, eye movement, and motor skills in dyslexic children. Twenty children with dyslexia (8- to 12-years of age) will participate in this study. Initially, children will be assessed (T1) reading performance, eye movements, manual coordination and postural control. Following, children will participate in the sensory-motor program intervention. This program is constituted of motor skills practice (motor coordination, locomotor and manipulative skills) with 2 sessions each week, during 50 minutes. In the other weekdays, children will perform a computer-based oculomotor training (rapid memory, detection of motion, saccadic to the right and saccadic to next line), 15 minutes each day. The intervention program will last 16 weeks. After the intervention, children will perform the same evaluations (T2) performed before. Comparisons between T1 and T2 will be performed using analyses of variance and analyses of multivariance.