G R Watson, W R De l'Aune, E Watkins
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development, Decatur, GA, United States
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the literacy skills of older persons with visual impairment, and to determine literacy outcomes. Methods: All subjects were screened to assure cognition and physical health were within normal limits. Thirty-five older subjects with age-related visual impairment who were scheduled for low vision services were administered a battery of assessments of literacy abilities, a measure of quality of life and a measure of overall functional abilities via self-report at three intervals; immediately prior to receiving low vision services, immediately after low vision services and at a six week follow-up in their homes. Thirty five normally sighted older subjects were also evaluated once using all measurements as a comparison group. Repeated measures and correlations were the statistics applied to answer most questions. Linear models were derived for the relationship between IQ and all literacy scores. Results: As a group, visually impaired subjects showed no differences between their pre-vision loss comprehension level and post vision rehabilitation comprehension level following low vision services, and their comprehension abilities were unchanged over the 6 week period to follow-up. There were statistically significant gains in all literacy measures following rehabilitation; accuracy, comprehension and rate of reading, writing ability, functional health literacy and duration of reading. Subjects' increased literacy abilities were related to increases in quality of life and overall independent functioning. Reading comprehension ability was predictive for both amount of reading and overall literacy functioning in the home environment at follow-up. Subjects who were visually impaired showed lower overall literacy ability after rehabilitation than normally sighted peers. Conclusion: Older persons with visual impairment are able to regain literacy ability, but not to the level of normally sighted peers.
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