Title : Screening for brain based/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) in children
Abstract:
Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) has been defined as a verifiable visual dysfunction which cannot be attributed to disorders of the anterior visual pathways or any potentially co-occurring ocular visual issue. Recent research has indicated that as many as one child in every mainstream classroom (approximately 3.4%) have CVI related visual issues. Many of these children have normal or near normal visual acuity but have significant issues with visual perceptual processing (visual perceptual difficulties). Different studies have found the majority of these children have learning difficulties (80%), struggle with friendships and social interactions (90%), and experience high levels of anxiety requiring emotional regulation support (100%). In mainstream schools, CVI is mostly unheard of, thus these difficulties are often misdiagnosed as developmental conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism or the children are simply labelled as having learning and behaviour difficulties. To help identify these children, a screening app (for use on iPad or iPhone), the Austin Assessment, has been developed and validated for use by parents, educators, clinicians and researchers as a quick and easy way to screen children aged 5-18 for CVI related visual issues. The app measures four variables while the children are doing the assessment that correspond with the key indicators of visual perceptual difficulties. These include, darting eye movements, slow processing of the visual scene as the complexity increases, worsening performance with increased task demand and slower response time to visual stimuli. Extensive research and development has been conducted on the Austin Assessment over a period of six years, including an initial pilot study, user testing, creating a normative range database, assessing the effectiveness of the app as a screening app, specific validation research and user experience interviews. With such a high prevalence rate, it is important that screening for this complex condition is conducted. When CVI related visual issues are identified, understood and supported, these children are able to overcome many of their challenges and flourish.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- The audience will be able to further develop their understanding of CVI, how it manifests in children and the impact it has on a day to day basis and
- The audience will be able to more easily identify children with CVI related visual issues / visual perceptual difficulties by using the screening tool introduced in the presentation
- This will help those working with children, especially in the diagnostic and learning support space, as it will ensure the children who are identified as having CVI related visual issues receive the appropriate support
