The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of reading mode (oral and silent reading) and braille reading patterns (one-handed pattern, mark pattern, parallel pattern, cooperative pattern) on the reading speed and comprehension of students with visual impairments in China. Seventy-three students with visual impairments aged 10-19 years participated in the study; 48 were students with congenital visual impairments and 25 were students with adventitious visual impairments. The participants' braille reading performance was assessed by the Chinese Reading Comprehension Test. Measurement indicators included reading speed (wpm) and reading comprehension. The results indicated that (1) Reading mode had a significant effect on both reading speed and reading comprehension. More specifically, although participants read faster in silent reading than in oral reading, they demonstrated better reading comprehension in oral reading than in silent reading. (2) There was a significant interaction effect between reading mode and braille reading patterns on reading speed. In particular, participants using cooperative and one-handed patterns read faster than other patterns in silent reading. This difference did not exist in the oral reading mode. (3) There was no difference between the measurement indicators of the students with congenital and adventitious visual impairments. Implications and recommendations are given based on the analyses.

• Keywords
• Braille reading patterns, Chinese braille, Reading mode, Reading performance,
• MeSH
• Reading * MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Comprehension * MeSH
• Vision Disorders psychology   rehabilitation   MeSH
• Reaction Time * MeSH
• Sensory Aids * MeSH
• Verbal Behavior MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• China MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether nursing home residents with concurrent vision and hearing impairment, dual sensory impairment (DSI), have a greater cognitive decline over time than do those without sensory impairment and whether social engagement modifies this association. METHODS: Based on the Services and Health for Elderly in Long TERm Care study, 1,989 nursing home residents who were assessed using the interRAI LTCF at 6-month intervals over 1 year were included. Multivariate linear regression models with time-variant exposure variables of sensory impairment and social engagement using generalized estimating equations were performed to predict cognitive function measured by the Cognitive Performance Scale (range 0-6). RESULTS: Residents with DSI had a greater cognitive decline [changes in Cognitive Performance Scale over 1 year = 1.12 (95% confidence interval = 0.81:1.42)] compared to those with either vision or hearing impairment [0.67 (0.53:0.64)] and those without sensory impairment [0.56 (0.48:0.64)]. A lower level of social engagement was also associated with a greater cognitive decline. The combined exposure variable of sensory impairment and social engagement revealed the greatest cognitive decline for socially disengaged residents with DSI [1.87 (1.24:2.51)] and the potential effect modification of social engagement on the association between DSI and cognitive decline; DSI was not associated with a greater cognitive decline among socially engaged residents, while it was associated among socially disengaged residents DISCUSSION: Cognitive function declines faster in nursing home residents with DSI only when residents were not socially engaged. Therefore, residents with DSI might cognitively benefit from interventions to improve involvement in social life at nursing homes.

• Keywords
• Cognitive ageing, Dual sensory impairment, Nursing home., Social engagement,
• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Homes for the Aged statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Geriatric Assessment methods   MeSH
• Interpersonal Relations MeSH
• Cognition * MeSH
• Cognition Disorders * diagnosis   etiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Linear Models MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Hearing Loss * complications   psychology   MeSH
• Nursing Homes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Vision Disorders * complications   psychology   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Social Support MeSH
• Social Participation psychology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

The author describes a group of 12 patients with concentric narrowing of the visual field which was not elucidated, with the exception of one patient, even after all indicated clinical and paraclinical examinations. He describes diagnostic methods providing evidence of the functional character of the impaired visual field and presents typical findings of changes of the visual field in functional disorders.

• MeSH
• Diagnosis, Differential MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Vision Disorders diagnosis   psychology   MeSH
• Psychophysiologic Disorders diagnosis   MeSH
• Visual Fields * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Vision Disorders psychology   MeSH
• Psychophysiologic Disorders * MeSH
• Visual Fields * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH