What does the Visagraph do?
The Visagraph gives results in terms of grade level efficiency. This is not a measure of the person’s achievement or capability, but rather a measure of how hard they have to work compared to others in their grade level. Many children may be reading on or above grade level in comprehension and fluency, but using an efficiency level far below their grade level. This means the child is working too hard for the grades they receive.
Who benefits from the Visagraph?
The Visagraph is not limited to students who exhibit more obvious struggles with reading comprehension, speed, fatigue, or headaches. It is also for students who are not performing at their appropriate level. Those who work much harder to achieve the same results as their peers are often misdiagnosed and left untreated. The Visagraph evaluation can provide necessary information to correctly diagnose the underlying problem.
How does the Visagraph work?
The Visagraph uses infrared sensors to track eye movements while the individual reads a passage, and then compares these eye movements with measurements taken form a large study of people. It compares the individual’s performance to the grade level norm established during the study.
The Visagraph, in tracking the eye movements, measures whether or not the eyes are working as a team to process information. The Visagraph can also measure and graph eye movements by grade level. This includes left to right movements, number of pauses while reading, length of pauses, moving right to left and down to change lines, and reversals of eye movements.
How to proceed:
The first step is a Comprehensive Learning Related Vision Examination with one of the Developmental Optometrists at Artisan Optics. This allows our doctor to evaluate the health and function of the visual system.
Following the eye examination is a Visagraph evaluation. This consists of using the Visagraph during an hour-long evaluation to determine the individual’s eye patterns while reading.
Utilizing the graphed information, along with the results of the Learning Related Vision Examination, a personalized plan for improving eye movement skills is developed and administered under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey C. Johnson.