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Updated: Dec 31, 2025
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Early intervention for children at risk of visual processing dysfunctions from 1 year of age: a randomized controlled
Marlou J G Kooiker1, Yoni van der Linden2, Jenneke van Dijk2
1Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000, CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.kooiker@erasmusmc.nl.
Insights
This study investigates a new visual intervention program for infants at risk of visual processing dysfunction (VPD). Early intervention shows promise for improving visual and neurocognitive outcomes in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric ophthalmology
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Early childhood intervention
Background:
- Increasing incidence of brain damage-related visual processing dysfunctions (VPD) in children.
- Lack of evidence-based early intervention methods for VPD.
- Development of a novel, adaptive visual intervention protocol for infants as young as one year.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the first visual intervention program for young children with or at risk of VPD.
- To assess the impact of early, tailored visual habilitation on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Single-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 100 very preterm infants ( < 30 weeks gestation) at 1 year corrected age.
- Visual screening followed by ophthalmic assessment and a newly developed intervention program (general and supplement protocols).
- Random allocation to early intervention (1 year) or delayed intervention (2 years) with placebo control.
Main Results:
- (Results will be available upon study completion)
Conclusions:
- The randomized controlled trial will establish the effectiveness of the early visual intervention program.
- The combined general and supplement protocol allows for structured comparison and tailored habilitation.
- Findings are expected to be applicable to the broader population of children with early-life VPD.
Background:
An increasing number of children are suffering from brain damage-related visual processing dysfunctions (VPD). There is currently a lack of evidence-based intervention methods that can be used early in development. We developed a visual intervention protocol suitable from 1 year of age. The protocol is structured, comprehensive and individually adaptive, and is paired with quantitative outcome assessments. Our aim is to investigate the effectiveness of this first visual intervention program for young children with (a risk of) VPD.
Methods:
This is a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial that is embedded within standard clinical care. The study population consists of 100 children born very or extremely preterm (< 30 weeks) at 1 year of corrected age (CA), of whom 50% are expected to have VPD. First, children undergo a visual screening at 1 year CA. If they are classified as being at risk of VPD, they are referred to standard care, which involves an ophthalmic and visual function assessment and a (newly developed) visual intervention program. This program consists of a general protocol (standardized and similar for all children) and a supplement protocol (adapted to the specific needs of the child). Children are randomly allocated to an intervention group (starting upon inclusion at 1 year CA) or a control group (postponed: starting at 2 years CA). The control group will receive a placebo treatment. The effectiveness of early visual intervention will be examined with follow-up visual and neurocognitive assessments after 1 year (upon completion of the direct intervention) and after 2 years (upon completion of the postponed intervention).
Discussion:
Through this randomized controlled trial we will establish the effectiveness of a new and early visual intervention program. Combining a general and supplement protocol enables both structured comparisons between participants and groups, and custom habilitation that is tailored to a child's specific needs. The design ensures that all included children will benefit from participation by advancing the age at which they start receiving an intervention. We expect results to be applicable to the overall population of children with (a risk of) VPD early in life.
Trial Registration:
Netherlands Trial Register: NTR6952. Registered 19 January 2018.
