Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is a category of visual impairment caused by damage to the brain as a consequence of a medical condition or injury.
It’s a complex disability that can present multiple difficulties that affect individuals’ visual fields and perception.
As a child grows, they can face a range of challenges related to their CVI. These may include difficulty with focusing on objects in the environment, and interpreting what they see. They may also have trouble recognising faces and objects.
Watch our conversation with Dr Jonathan Waddington to learn more about CVI.
Causes
The root cause of CVI can be complex and varied:
- Neurological disorders
- Genetic disorders
- Trauma to the brain or eyes
Common challenges
CVI affects everyone differently based on the type of brain injury. The severity of the impairment can also vary greatly. Typical problems include:
- Poor vision
- Problems with recognising faces or objects
- Difficulty tracking moving objects
- Poor field of vision
- Colour and contrast
- Difficulty interpreting abstract concepts
How does it affect students?
Visual dysfunctions affect students socially and academically. They may struggle to make sense of their surroundings or interact with peers. It can also impact learning, making it difficult for them to keep up with their classmates.
Colour preference
Students with CVI may have a preference for certain colours and shapes. For example, they may choose to focus on items that are bright and colourful.
Poor response to verbal instructions
Some students struggle with verbal instructions due to Cerebral Visual Impairment as they may find it hard to connect what they hear with what they see.
Support is essential to ensure students understand and complete tasks effectively. Without it, students may become frustrated or give up.
Movement
Students may have trouble with movement, coordination, and balance. They may also be unable to focus on objects and tracking movement.
This can severely disrupt their everyday activities. Young people with CVI often have difficulty moving from point A to point B independently.
Can CVI be treated?
Although there is no cure for CVI, it can be managed with the right support. Presenting characteristics can be improved through a multi professional team including QTVI and therapies such as, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language therapy.
How can InFocus help young people with CVI?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to supporting young people with CVI. At InFocus, we believe every student should have access to the right resources and strategies to help them succeed. This includes:
Adapting the environment – removing visual clutter and potential obstacles.
Modifying the curriculum – using visuals, symbols, or tactile materials to support learning.
Adapting teaching techniques – providing simple instructions, breaking tasks down into smaller, more manageable chunks and using explicit instruction to provide step-by-step guidance.
Providing support – giving verbal feedback, modelling, and demonstrating skills, offering extra time or more practice.
Making use of technology – utilising assistive technologies such as text-to-speech or speech-to-text software, apps, and devices.
The CVI Range
Since 2015, our specialist college has been running a CVI Range programme. This programme was initially piloted with individual students before being implemented on a larger scale.
Over the years, a total of 28 students between the ages of 11 and 22 have participated in the programme for at least one year, with 10 students participating for over three years. We have seen significant improvements in functional vision for our students as a group.
Through our programme, we strive to empower our students with sight impairments and give them the best chance at success.
CVI assessments
InFocus College offers ‘CVI Range’ assessments to families, local authorities, and professionals who want to better understand a young person’s functional vision. The assessments are conducted by experienced staff who specialise in the education and habilitation of young people with visual impairments.
The assessment process involves;
- Interviews with parents/carers – to gain a better understanding of a child’s functional vision. This can help us identify the struggles a child faces and how they react to certain situations.
- Direct face-to-face assessment – a structured vision assessment is conducted to confirm some basic visual abilities. This is key to determining the best intervention for students.
- Informal observations – unstructured functional vision assessment in an appropriate multi-sensory environment. It allows us to see firsthand how a young person reacts to visual stimuli.
The goal is to evaluate the impact of CVI in young people and evaluate the impact on their learning and daily life.
Assessments help identify where the child is on the ‘CVI Range’. We then know which areas to target to help students make the most of their functional vision.
For more information, including costs, please email or call 01392 454200.