[Is the M. Frostig perceptual training effective or not? On evaluation of the program for promoting visual perception in the German speaking areas].

Whereas the question concerning the efficacy of the Frostig program for the development of visual perception has been discussed controversely among American scientists, most German authors speak positively about the training. In this article, eight studies applying German versions of the Frostig training are shortly presented and their results summarized to find a statement about the effects of the German version of the Frostig program. The comparison of the eight studies turned out to be difficult, because the authors trained children with different handicaps. Moreover, the material was composed differently and the children were trained for different time periods. The interpretation of the positive results in the eight studies turned out more difficult because of unprecise presentation and of methodic shortcomings. The most severe shortcoming in most studies concerned the use of either no or of inappropriate control groups. Overall, the Frostig program seems to lead to improvements in different areas of performance when compared to normal school or preschool lessons. But it seems questionable if the Frostig material itself or the social interaction between trainer and child is responsible for the effects. Besides, the impact of the Frostig training on different performances may be a hint that the training not only affects visual perception, and that improved attention may be responsible for some of the effects.