Measurement of Ocular Pursuits in Normal Children

Abstract

Ocular pursuits have been evaluated by occupational therapists (OTRs) in many settings, but normative information has been lacking. In this study, a standardized method of testing and recording ocular pursuits was developed and pilot tested on both normal and handicapped children. Normative data were then collected by using a cooperative research method in which 28 OTRs in the state of Colorado were trained, in a one-day workshop, to administer and score the test, achieving .98 inter-rater reliability for total test score. Each qualified tester evaluated approximately 15 normal children between 3 and 11 years of age. The total sample was 489 subjects.

There were some age-related trends, and most behaviors demonstrated a ceiling effect, particularly with older children. The results imply that many normal children have some immaturity in ocular pursuit skills until 6 or 7 years of age.