The authors aimed to determine interobserver variability and reliability of Lea grating paddles when assessing grating acuity in pre and non-verbal children. This was a prospective study of 31 consecutive patients; 29 pre-verbal <36 months and two with delayed speech at 44 and 43 months old. There were 19 males and 12 females. Mean age was 28.5 months. The study included a total of 44 observations with at least one eye from 23 children, from each observer and binocular visual observation for eight children. Mean binocular VA test was 2.07cpd for observer 1 and 2.14 for observer 2 (not significant). Right and left VA tests were 0.98 and 0.97cpd for observer 1 and 0.89 and 0.79 for observer 2 (not significant). Interobserver agreement of 0.5 octave or better was 95.65% and 95.23% for right and left eyes, and 92% for binocular VA. There was 100% agreement for one octave or better. The authors conclude that Lea paddles have minimal interobserver variability and are reliable and reproducible as a pre-verbal test.
Variability and reliability of Lea grating paddles
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
Interobserver variability for measurement of grating acuity in preverbal and nonverbal children using Lea grating paddles.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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