There are a range of characteristics often present in children and young people with CVI and complex needs.
Colour preference
Many with CVI have a colour preference, frequently red or yellow. Use a CYP’s preference to encourage looking before introducing more colours and patterns.
Need for movement
Children and young people with CVI may be motivated to look with movement or reflective properties of objects. The need for movement may reduce.
Delayed response to looking at objects (visual latency)
Those with CVI often need time to make a visual response and to interpret what they see. The time to respond will reduce as visual targets become familiar.
Visual field preference
Children and young people with CVI often show a visual field preference, for example within the left or right field, or use of peripheral vision.
Difficulty with visual complexity
Children and young people with CVI can use their vision where the environment is organised. For example, simple bold images with reduced visual clutter mounted on a plain background, reduced background noise.
Light gazing and non-purpose gaze
Children and young people with CVI can be overly attentive to overhead lights to the detriment of purposeful visual attention. Take care in positioning the pupil and encourage them to look at appropriate targets.
Difficulty with visual distance
Those with CVI initially give attention to objects in their near vision. Over time, they may extend the distance of their visual interest.
Difficulty with new objects
Children and young people with CVI give visual attention to familiar objects. They may not initially look at new objects unless they share familiar attributes, for example colour and movement.
Absence of visually guided reach
Many with CVI find it difficult to look and reach at the same time. They may look, and look away before reaching.
For more information on CVI
- Make It Easier To See – Simple Ideas to help people with cerebral visual impairment and brain based visual problems
- https://www.cvisociety.org.uk/
- CVI Scotland
- Accessible books and curriculum resources: UK education collection | RNIB Bookshare, accessible books for print disabled learners.
- Animal Book for Children with CVI – Paths to Literacy
- Little Bear Sees – Helping children with cortical visual impairment (CVI) learn to see
- Cerebral visual impairment and PMLD | RNIB