What Evidence Exists on Intervention for Pediatric Cerebral Visual Impairment: A Review

Thursday, November 10, 2022

3:24 PM – 3:29 PM

Location: Station 7

Presenting Author(s)

Kathleen M. Weden, MS, OTR/L

Pre-Doctoral Fellow
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia, Alabama, United States

Non-presenting Author(s)

DD

Dawn DeCarlo, OD, PhD

Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
BB

Beth A. Barstow, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA

Associate Professor, Director Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Research Objectives:

Objective: To report and categorize intervention strategies for Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) that have been examined or are under investigation. Outcome measures also reported to illuminate all change effects considered and how they were assessed.

Design: CVI results from an array of etiologies and has become the primary cause of pediatric low vision, but best interventions remain unknown. Given underdeveloped stage of the field, a scoping review was deemed most appropriate.

Setting: Data Sources: Four databases searched, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, PsychInfo, with no date restriction. Sources had to be peer reviewed, available in English, targeting children (0-18 years chronological age) diagnosed with vision impairment meeting definition of CVI, and provide intervention detail. Indexing terms piloted and removed if retrieved sources didn’t meet criteria.

Participants: Study Selection: PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist used. Title/abstract selection (n=512) preceded full text review (n=62) resulting in 19 included sources. Most excluded sources solely reported prognosis, etiology, diagnostics, or assessment strategies.

Interventions: Data Extraction: Independent data extraction conducted, followed by consensus discussion among authors. Level of evidence was graded using the scale cited in the American Occupational Therapy Association Guidelines for Systematic Reviews.

Main Outcome Measures: Data Synthesis: Interventions were grouped into five categories: habilitation, visual stimulation, color tent, serious games, medical.

Results: Most sources (n=12) were lower level of evidence (3B, 4). Outcome measures ranged greatly, from subjective clinical observation, to objective, quantitative eye tracking data.

Conclusions:

Conclusions: Further higher-level research needed to differentiate which interventions offer best outcomes for pediatric CVI and how interventions compare to standard care. Continued examination of interventions will necessitate identification of additional quantitative and objective measures that can be successfully used with this population.

Author(s) Disclosures: Disclosures: In relation to this poster, we declare no conflicts of interest.

Learning Objectives:

Retrieve information on interventions under consideration for pediatric Cerebral Visual Impairment
Educate colleagues and families about the level of evidence that exists for different intervention strategies for children with Cerebral Visual Impairment
Select assessment strategies that have been successful in characterizing function for children with Cerebral Visual Impairment