Self-reported reading difficulties and rehabilitation goals in individuals with homonymous visual field defects.

Abstract

Homonymous Visual Field Defects (HVFDs) often cause reading difficulties. Self-reported reading difficulties and reading intervention goals remain however understudied. This study explores the prevalence of self-reported reading difficulties in 24 individuals with HVFDs, compared to their pre-HVFD experiences and to 160 matched controls. A comparison between left- and right-sided HVFDs is also included. Additionally, we examined which reading skills and reading objects individuals with HVFDs wished to improve. Using the novel Hemianopia Reading Questionnaire, we found that individuals with HVFDs reported poorer reading efficacy, poorer reading skills and poorer reading of different objects compared to pre-HVFD levels and control participants. However, love for and the importance of reading appear unaffected by the HVFD. Reading speed and orientation were the most affected skills after HVFD. Individuals with right-HVFDs reported lower reading speed compared to individuals with left-HVFDs. Reading books was the most desired goal for improvement, yet reading books was also the most abandoned object after HVFD. Overall, the current study indicates the importance of reading in individuals with HVFD and highlights that self-reported reading difficulties occur in a broad range of difficulties related to efficacy, skills and reading objects and should be incorporated in future effect measures of HVFD-intervention studies.