P Fosse, K Tangvold
Tambartun National Resource Centre of the Visually Impaired, Vision and Light Laboratory, Melhus, Norway
Purpose:To develop and test a tool for charting visual function and to carry out a functional assessment of vision in some children with autism. Method: The new tool consists of a questionnaire and some simple tests of visual perception that can evaluate visual function in everyday activities. The tool was tested on 56 children who were assigned to one of three groups, A) for those with good verbal skills, B) for those communicating by signs and/or simple language and C) for those unable to use language or signs. Thirteen of the children were tested at the Tambartun Vision and Light Laboratory (TSLL). Results: In general, visual problems were more common among children in group C than in those of groups A and B. For three of the eight children in group C, there was suspicion of cortical visual impairment (CVI). Among the remaining 48 children, CVI was suspected in six. A total of 14 children were strabismic while 21 had a habit of regularly pressing on their eyes with their fingers or palms. Only 36% of the children had been examined by an ophthalmologist. In the 13 children that were tested at TSLL, we observed behaviour compatible with CVI in two children. The questionnaires gave us additional information that was valuable for our work. Conclusion: The new tool is a good supplement to ordinary assessments of visual function. In children with autism, significant visual impairments appear to be masked by the autism itself.
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