Visual perceptual deficits in different types of cerebral palsy
Date
2020
Authors
Berelowitz, Sharna
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Abstract
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have been found to have visual perceptual
impairments (VPI). Occupational therapists working with children with CP need to
consider these deficits when treating children with CP. There is little research related
to the trends of VPI in children with different subtypes of CP, specifically in a South
African context.
The purpose of this study was to determine the specific VPI in children ages 5-18
years with CP using the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-3 (TVPS-3) and to compare
the subtest scores and composite scores with different subtypes of CP as well as
demographic variables. The Test of Visual perceptual Skills 3rd ed. (TVPS-3) was used
to assess 80 learners between the ages of 4-18 years with various subtypes of CP.
All the subtypes of CP have VPI, with the right spastic (hemiplegic) unilateral group
having the least impairments and the ataxic group the greatest impairments. Different
subtypes of CP show different impairments in VPI and there is a significant difference
in visual discrimination and figure-ground scores of the TVPS-3. A significant
difference is found in the composite basic processes scores between different
subtypes of CP as well as between males and females. No significant differences are
found between different ages and GMFCS levels.
The results in this study found that learners with all subtypes of CP have VPI. The
spastic unilateral (right) CP groups had the highest overall scores and the ataxic group
had the lowest scores. The different subtypes of CP showed different trends in VPI.
There was a significant difference in the visual discrimination and figure-ground
subtest scores as well as the composite basic processes scores between the different
subtypes of CP as well as between males and females. Participants with unilateral
spastic CP had more impairment in sequential memory and spatial components while
the participants with bilateral spastic CP had greater impairments in visual decimation
related components. No significant differences are found between different ages and
GMFCS levels.
Visual impairment and the level of intellectual impairment were limitations to the study.
Further research on a larger sample of South African learners is recommended
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, 2020