Feasibility of the clinical dynamic visual acuity test in typically developing preschoolers

Evi Verbecque, Niels De Belder, Tessa Marijnissen, Luc Vereeck, Paul Van de Heyning, Ann Hallemans

To determine the feasibility of the dynamic visual acuity test (DVA) in children who are preschoolers. Thirty-three preschoolers [3 years old (n = 11), 4 years old (n = 6), 5 years old (n = 8), and 6 years old (n = 8)], performed a static visual acuity test (SVA), a passive horizontal DVA (hDVA) at 1 and 2 Hz, and a DVA on treadmill at three age-specific walking speeds (slow/medium/high). The DVA scores, the difference between SVA and hDVA, were used to determine false positive results. The SVA was performed by 31/33 children, the hDVA and DVA on treadmill at slow and medium speed by 27/33 and the DVA on treadmill at high speed by 25/33. Except for one 5 years old, all drop-outs were 3 years old. The hDVA at 2 Hz was administered in only six children because of difficulties with focusing on reading the symbols at this frequency. False positive results for the hDVA at 1 Hz were found in 3/27 children, all 3 years old, and 2/6 for the hDVA at 2 Hz. The DVA on treadmill seems useful for preschoolers from age 5, but this should be further investigated in children with underlying pathologies.