Reading and deafness: eye tracking in deaf readers with different linguistic educational backgrounds

The present study aims at investigating with an eye tracking tool the processes that underlie the exploration of written texts performed by deaf people with different language skills and different educational backgrounds. Our sample was composed of 36 deaf participants (in particular : 12 using Italian Sign Language most of the time, 12 using Italian only and 12 who could use both languages) and 12 hearing participants who did not understand any sign language. The study showed how different liguistic educational backgrounds and reading habits are associated to discriminant variables in reading texts, as far as oculomotor movements are concerned.