Supporting Neurodivergent Students with RealEye

How can we make science texts more accessible to students with learning and attention disorders? A study by Aušrinė Raudoniūtė (2025) explored just that - using RealEye’s webcam-based eye-tracking technology to better understand how different types of instructional design affect reading for students with dyslexia and ADHD.

The Goal: Make Reading Easier for All

The goal of this study was simple but powerful: to see how students with learning and attention challenges read science texts, and how things like highlighted keywords, infographics, or decorative images (called “seductive details”) impact their focus and understanding.

The research focused on students aged 11–14, a crucial age for learning how to process more complex information. Using RealEye, the team aimed to observe their eye movements and understand what kind of text layout supports or distracts these students.

How RealEye Was Used

In a quiet classroom, students sat individually in front of laptops. They read science texts modified in four ways:

1. Plain text
2. Text with highlighted key phrases
3. Text with a related infographic
4. Text with a decorative image

Each reading was followed by a question to test understanding. RealEye recorded their gaze patterns using the built-in webcam - tracking fixation points, scanpaths, and regressions (when a student rereads a section).

Who Took Part?

The study looked closely at four students:

• Three neurodivergent students (two with both dyslexia and attention disorders, one with dyslexia only)
• One neurotypical student (used as a comparison)

What the Study Found

Here’s what RealEye helped uncover:

• Infographics and decorative images distracted neurodivergent students: Their scanpaths were chaotic, with frequent jumps and re-reading. These visual extras increased mental load and made it harder to focus on the key content.
• Highlighted text helped: For students with dyslexia, bolded keywords acted like visual signposts. Their reading became more organized, and they were better able to focus on the important parts of the text.
• Plain text was also effective: For one student with dyslexia, reading plain text (without distractions) resulted in the most structured and focused eye movements.
• Neurotypical students weren’t affected by extra visuals: Their reading patterns were efficient across all conditions, suggesting that well-designed visuals don’t harm comprehension for them - but they can hinder those with learning difficulties.

What This Means for Educators

This case study shows how eye-tracking with RealEye can be used to build more inclusive learning materials. If you're designing science content for students with dyslexia or ADHD, consider these takeaways:

✅ Use highlighted text to guide attention
❌ Avoid irrelevant decorative images that may distract
📉 Keep layouts clean and simple to reduce cognitive load

RealEye gave the researchers a clear, real-time view into how students actually read - and struggle - with science texts. It’s a powerful reminder that small design choices can make a big difference.

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Interested in using RealEye for education research or accessibility testing?

Check out RealEye offer for Education!

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You can run a similar study!

Follow the steps below to start your own experiment with RealEye:

1. Go to RealEye Dashboard and create or log in to your account.
2. Purchase the License of your choice (https://www.realeye.io/pricing). If you need any custom adjustments, contact us at contact@realeye.io. We are happy to help!
3. Activate your license by following the instructions in the RealEye License Activation Guide

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‍Ready to set up your own study? Visit RealEye Support page to learn more and keep us posted on your results! 🚀