RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Normative data for three tests of visuocognitive function in primary school children: cross-sectional study
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 752
OP 756
DO 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-305868
VO 99
IS 6
A1 Cathy Williams
A1 Iain D Gilchrist
A1 Sue Fraser
A1 HM McCarthy
A1 Julie Parker
A1 Penny Warnes
A1 Jill Young
A1 Lea Hyvarinen
YR 2015
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/99/6/752.abstract
AB Background/Aims There is an increasing recognition that visuocognitive difficulties occur in children with neurodevelopmental problems. We obtained normative data for the performance of primary school children using three tests of visuocognitive function that are practicable in a clinical setting. Methods We tested 214 children aged between 4 and 11 years without known developmental problems, using tests to assess (1) orientation recognition and adaptive movement (postbox task), (2) object recognition (rectangles task) and (3) spatial integration (contours task). Results 96% could do the postbox task with ease—only 4% (all aged <9 years) exhibited minor difficulties. Errors in the rectangles task decreased with age: 33% of children aged 4–5 years had major difficulties but >99% of children aged ≥6 years had no, or minor, difficulties. Median scores for the contours task improved with age, and after age 8 years, 99% could see the contour using long-range spatial integration rather than density. Conclusions These different aspects of children’s visuocognitive performance were testable in a field setting. The data provide a benchmark by which to judge performance of children with neurodevelopmental problems and may be useful in assessment with a view to providing effective supportive strategies for children whose visuocognitive skills are lower than the expectation for their age.