Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Visual perception in preterm children: what are we currently measuring?
Els L Ortibus1, Paul P De Cock, Lieven G Lagae
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. els.ortibus@uzleuven.be
Insights
Cerebral visual impairment is a key issue in preterm children, especially those with cerebral palsy. Advanced neuroimaging techniques like diffusion tensor imaging offer new ways to diagnose and enable early intervention for visual processing deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a primary deficit in preterm children, particularly those with cerebral palsy.
- Visual processing deficits are increasingly recognized in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on visual processing deficits in preterm children with cerebral palsy.
- To provide an overview of diagnostic tools for CVI.
- To explore the role of neuroimaging in diagnosing CVI.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current knowledge on CVI in preterm children.
- Analysis of existing assessment tools for CVI.
- Review of neuroimaging findings, including diffusion tensor imaging.
Main Results:
- Current instruments often focus on visuospatial skills, missing object recognition deficits.
- Diagnosing CVI is challenging in young children (≤3 years) and those with multiple impairments.
- Neuroimaging, especially diffusion tensor imaging, shows promise for sensitive CVI detection.
Conclusions:
- Early and accurate diagnosis of CVI is crucial for intervention.
- Novel neuroimaging techniques may overcome limitations of current clinical assessments.
- Diffusion tensor imaging could serve as a sensitive marker for CVI, facilitating timely intervention.
Abstract:
Over the past two decades, cerebral visual impairment has been recognized as a principal deficit in preterm children, and in particular those with cerebral palsy. We review the current knowledge of visual processing deficits in these children, and provide an overview of the tools for assessing cerebral visual impairment. Commercially available instruments are usually directed at evaluating visuospatial skills rather than detecting object recognition difficulties. Particularly in children aged 3 years or younger and in children with multiple handicaps, cerebral visual impairment is difficult to diagnose. This difficulty may be attributable to limitations specific to the instrument, such as a test that is inappropriate for age, or to child-specific limitations such as motor impairment or speech delay. We therefore include an overview of relevant neuroimaging findings reported in these children, focusing on the most recent imaging modalities. Novel techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging may provide sensitive markers of cerebral visual impairment in situations where clinical diagnosis is difficult, and such approaches may allow for early intervention.
