Visual information processing skills are associated with academic performance in Grade 2 school children

Purpose This study evaluated the association between performance on visual information processing tests and academic performance in school children. Methods Visual‐motor integration (VMI), the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test, visual acuity and stereoacuity were assessed in 222 Grade 2 children (mean age: 7.90 ± 0.33 years). Academic performance was assessed using standardized tests of reading and mathematics (PAT‐R and PAT‐M). Linear regression analyses examined associations between visual information processing (VMI and DEM) and academic measures, adjusting for school socio‐economic background and age. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the ability of the tests to identify children with below average academic performance. Results Visual‐motor integration (VMI) and DEM (horizontal time) were most strongly associated with PAT‐R and PAT‐M. Linear regression models explained 28.6% of variance in PAT‐R (VMI: standardized regression coefficient = 0.31, p