[Sweep-VEP: a new method for objective visual assessment in small children]

For visual acuity testing in small children Preferential Looking and registration of Visually Evoked Potentials (VEP) are used clinically. Both methods are dependent on good cooperation, since the presented patterns have to be fixated during several minutes by the children tested. In contrast the sweep-technique, described in 1985 by Norcia, allows VEPs to be measured in only a few seconds. As in conventional VEP-testing filtering and Fourier data analysis are performed. The short examination time guarantees in most cases no problems in maintaining attention and stable fixation, even when newborns or handicapped are tested. In several studies good reliability has been demonstrated. As an illustration results of sweep-VEP-testing of three months old twins are shown.