ReadClear: An Assistive Reading Tool for People Living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy

Abstract

word count: 215 Manuscript word count: 3908 Abstract Introduction: Progressive reading impairment is an early and debilitating symptom of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) arising from the progressive deterioration of visual processing skills . The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of a purposebuilt reading app (ReadClear) co-produced with people living with PCA and designed to reduce the reading difficulties experienced by this population (e.g. getting lost in the page and missing words when reading). . Method:Twenty subjects with PCA were included in a cross-over design home-based study aimed at determining whether ReadClear could 1) enhance the subjective reading experience (reading pleasantness) and 2) improve reading accuracy (reducing the number of reading errors) compared with a sham condition (a standard e-reader).Results: Reading using ReadClear provided a better subjective reading experience than sham (p= 0.018, d= 0.5) and significantly reduced the percentage of reading errors (p < 0.0001, r = 0.82), particularly errors due to omissions (p = 0.01, r = 0.50), repeated words (p = 0.002, r = 0.69) and regressions in the text (p = 0.003, r = 0.69). We found that different kinds of reading errors were related to specific neuropsychological profiles. Conclusions:ReadClear can assist reading in people living with PCA by reducing the number of reading errors and improving the subjective reading experience of users.

Better conversations: a language and communication intervention for aphasia in posterior cortical atrophy

“…Further research exploring the language profile of individuals with PCA, and the impact on discourse samples, conversation, and quality of life would benefit people living with the disease, their families, clinicians, and researchers. This, in turn, would also drive the much-needed research developing interventions, such as evidence-based reading aids mitigating peripheral dyslexia (Suarez-Gonzalez et al, 2019 ; Yong et al, 2015 ), and maximizing proposed benefits of psychological, occupational therapy, and peer-to-peer support through improved functional communication (Graff-Radford et al, 2021 ; Schott & Crutch, 2019 ).…”

“…Correspondingly, communication partner training has been favored when working with people with PPA (Volkmer et al, 2019 ; Volkmer, 2020 ) in order to address the impact of the language impairment in conversation and support identification of practical strategies to enhance interactions between the person and their communication partner. However, despite the promise of lexical word retrieval and communication partner training interventions and evidence-base aids supporting diminished reading for people with PCA (Suarez-Gonzalez et al, 2019 ; Yong et al, 2015 ), there are essentially no studies of speech and language interventions for people with PCA.…”

Sequences of cognitive decline in typical Alzheimer's disease and posterior cortical atrophy estimated using a novel event‐based model of disease progression

“…We employed a battery of tests that are routinely used in the clinic 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 and in pharmacological 36 and non‐pharmacological 37 clinical trials involving PCA. We used the same battery of neuropsychological tests on each cohort, which allows direct comparison of cognitive decline across the two dementia syndromes.…”

“… For further details on many of these tests, we refer the reader to [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ] …”

Inspired by chance: valuing patients’ informal contributions to research

“…Two proponents of this kind of involvement in the co-design process are Pam and Richard Southerden, who have brought their experience of working in the IT industry to bear on technologies to support people living with dementia since Pam’s diagnosis with PCA in July 2015. Working with neuropsychologist Aida Suarez Gonzalez and developer Ashley Peacock, they have influenced the design of reading app ReadClear 22. They have also collaborated with computer scientist Nick Firth and social scientist Emma Harding to explore the potential utility of Amazon Echo voice controlled devices in the homes of people with dementia related visual impairment 23…”