Understanding visual-spatial perceptual deficits in individuals with multiple sclerosis: an analysis of patient...

Purpose: Although the cognitive sequelae of multiple sclerosis have been recognized for more than four decades, the focus of research has been on studying the more common deficits of the disease, including those involving memory and information processing speed. Less understood and investigated are the visual-spatial perceptual disturbances of multiple sclerosis, which can be difficult to assess and interpret given the potential confounds associated with the physical problems and other cognitive disturbances of the disorder.Materials and methods: This study examined the visual-spatial perceptual deficits of multiple sclerosis in 40 participants diagnosed with this condition using two measures generally unaffected by the aforementioned confounds, the Hooper Visual Organization Test and Visual Form Discrimination.Results: Results revealed both measures to be sensitive to the impairments of multiple sclerosis but suggested that they are assessing somewhat different aspects of visual-spatial perception in this population, given their relationship with one another and with disease-related variables.Conclusions: In this light, findings indicate that a complete and accurate understanding of the visual-spatial perceptual sequelae of multiple sclerosis requires the administration of more than a single measure.