Normative data for three tests of visuocognitive function in primary school children: cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Visuocognitive difficulties are increasingly recognized in children with neurodevelopmental problems.
• Establishing normative data is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To obtain normative data for visuocognitive function in primary school children.
• To assess the clinical practicability of visuocognitive tests.

Main Methods:

• Tested 214 children (aged 4-11 years) without known developmental issues.
• Utilized three clinical tests: postbox task (orientation/movement), rectangles task (object recognition), and contours task (spatial integration).

Main Results:

• Postbox task: 96% performed with ease; minor difficulties in 4% (all <9 years).
• Rectangles task: Errors decreased with age; 33% of 4-5 year olds had major difficulties, >99% of ≥6 year olds had none/minor.
• Contours task: Scores improved with age; 99% of ≥8 year olds used long-range integration.

Conclusions:

• Visuocognitive performance aspects are testable in field settings.
• Data provide benchmarks for assessing children with neurodevelopmental problems.
• Findings aid in developing supportive strategies for age-inappropriate visuocognitive skills.