Visual, perceptual functions, and functional vision in children with unilateral cerebral palsy compared to children with neurotypical development.

AIM

To investigate visual (perceptual) function and functional vision in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and children with neurotypical development (NTD).

METHOD

Fifty children with unilateral CP (mean age 11 years 11 months, SD 2 years 10 months, range 7-15 years; 27 males; 26 left-sided unilateral CP; Manual Ability Classification System [MACS] levels: I, 27; II, 16; III, 7) and 50 age- and sex-matched children with NTD participated in a cross-sectional study. Visual acuity, stereoacuity, and visual-perceptual functions were measured with standardized clinical tests. Functional vision was assessed in children with unilateral CP with the Flemish cerebral visual impairment questionnaire (FCVIQ). Group differences were investigated with Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and the relative effect sizes r, η respectively. Correlations between visual assessments and the FCVIQ were investigated with Spearman's rank correlations.

RESULTS

The total group of children with unilateral CP showed reduced visual acuity compared with children with NTD (p = 0.02, r = 0.23). Only children with left-sided unilateral CP scored lower than those with NTD on stereoacuity (p < 0.01, r = 0.36). Children with right/left-sided unilateral CP scored significantly lower than those with NTD on visual-perceptual functions (p = 0.001-0.02), with large effect sizes on visuomotor integration and visual closure (both r = 0.57). Children with unilateral CP classified in MACS level III showed significantly lower scores on visual-perceptual assessments than children classified in MACS level I. Stereoacuity and visual-perceptual functions negatively correlated with the FCVIQ, with the highest association with visual (dis)interest and anxiety-related behaviours.

INTERPRETATION

Multi-level visual profiling is warranted in the clinical intake of children with unilateral CP to detect visual impairments that further compromise their level of functioning.