Characteristics of Vision in Children with CVI The visual system is a powerful and complex tool for understanding and perceiving the world. It has many aspects and dimensions that change throughout an individual’s lifetime. Therefore, it is unsurprising that there are many stages of vision at which perception can become impaired. Cortical (or cerebral) visual impairment (CVI) refers to any impairment or loss of vision brought about by damage to the brain or the central nervous system, rather than physical problems with the eye itself (ocular impairment); therefore, children and other individuals with CVI do not appear to have any cause for visual impairment when examined physically (Palmer, 2003). Historically, CVI has also been referred to
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Additional disabilities that frequently occur with CVI include cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and intellectual disabilities (Palmer, 2003). The effects of CVI are not heterogeneous and manifest differently depending on the cause of the impairment and the individual experiencing it; CVI affected individuals’ experiences also tend to be inconsistent over time and worsened by fatigue, illness, unfamiliarity with the environment, and poor lighting and contrast (Palmer, 2003). CVI affects children differently than those who experience its onset later in life (Roland et al., 1986); for this reason, this paper will focus on how CVI manifests in children rather than adults. Aspects of vision that may be impaired or affected in children with CVI include acuity, color, movement, visual field, visual attention span, and other various aspects of …show more content…
This hypoxia causes periventricular white matter damage, in most cases periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which affects the white matter around the lateral ventricles; children with these impairments tend to have visual impairments as well as functional motor impairment of the upper limbs (Fazzi et al., 2004). In addition, viral and bacterial infections (including meningitis), head injury and trauma, and other brain malformations are all uncommon, but possible, causes of CVI (Good et al., 1994). Abnormal prenatal factors are the biggest risk factor in developing childhood CVI (van Genderen et al.,
Additional disabilities that frequently occur with CVI include cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and intellectual disabilities (Palmer, 2003). The effects of CVI are not heterogeneous and manifest differently depending on the cause of the impairment and the individual experiencing it; CVI affected individuals’ experiences also tend to be inconsistent over time and worsened by fatigue, illness, unfamiliarity with the environment, and poor lighting and contrast (Palmer, 2003). CVI affects children differently than those who experience its onset later in life (Roland et al., 1986); for this reason, this paper will focus on how CVI manifests in children rather than adults. Aspects of vision that may be impaired or affected in children with CVI include acuity, color, movement, visual field, visual attention span, and other various aspects of …show more content…
This hypoxia causes periventricular white matter damage, in most cases periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which affects the white matter around the lateral ventricles; children with these impairments tend to have visual impairments as well as functional motor impairment of the upper limbs (Fazzi et al., 2004). In addition, viral and bacterial infections (including meningitis), head injury and trauma, and other brain malformations are all uncommon, but possible, causes of CVI (Good et al., 1994). Abnormal prenatal factors are the biggest risk factor in developing childhood CVI (van Genderen et al.,