Attention Deficits and the Effects of Visual Distraction

Abstract

The effects of a visual distractor on vigilance task performance were examined in a sample of LD and normal children. The vigilance task provides quantitative measures of the attentional deficit which is characteristic of many LD children. The results support previous findings that LDs tend to have a lower correct detection rate and higher false alarm, or random response, rate than normals. Detailed analysis supported the idea that most of the differences between these two broad groupings of children could be attributed to the hyperactive LDs. The study provided further support for the notion that the parameters of constructs such as Learning Disability can be Investigated and brought under experimental control.