Visual Perceptual/ Visual

Motor Deficit
What is visual perception ?
The ability to use vision to adapt to the
environment which requires the integration
of vision within the CNS to turn the raw data
supplied by the retina into cognitive
concepts of the perception of space and
objects that can be manipulated and used
for decision making .
The process by which this occurs is known

as visual perception .
VISUAL PERCEPTION
Visual coordination Visual vocal
Visual expression
discrimination Visual motoric
Visual association expression
Visual long-term Visual figure ground
memory discrimination
Visual short-term Visual spatial
memory relationships
Visual sequential Visual form
memory perception
How it works ?
It occurs through visual processes

Visual input from environment to eye

Pathway from retina to geniculate nucleus to

primary visual cortex

Input travel from primary visual cortex to

prefrontal lobe for complete visual processing
COMPONENTS OF VISUAL
PERCEPTUAL PROCESSING
visual perceptual processing can be
defined in a hierarchical model.
It consist of process of visual cognition ,

visual memory, pattern recognition, visual

scanning and visual attention .
 The highest order visual perceptual process in
the hierarchy is visual cognition. These
perceptual processes are supported by three
basic visual function that forms the foundation
of the hierarchy : Oculomotor Control,Visual
Fields ,Visual Acuity
Visual cognition : It is a ability to manipulate
and integrate visual inputs with other sensory
information to gain knowledge, solve problems,
formulate plans , and make decisions.( For the
complete cognitive processing)
Visual memory : visual cognition cannot
occur without the presence of visual
memory.
The mental manipulation of visual stimuli

requires the ability to create and retain a

picture of the object in the minds eye while
the visual analysis is being completed.
Pattern Recognition Before the visual image
can be stored in memory , and individual
must recognize the pattern making up the
image .
Pattern recognition, which sub-serves

visual memory in the hierarchy , it involves

identifying the object from the
surroundings. A salient feature is one that
distinguishes a particular object from
another
 Pattern recognition can not be
accomplished without the next process in
the hierarchy : visual scanning : It is
accomplished through the use of saccadic
eye movements . A saccade is a movement
of the eye towards an object of interest in
the environment .
 Visual attention Visual scanning is actually a
product of visual attention .
Visual search occurs on two levels :
An automatic or reflexive level- (controlled by
brain stem) Any novel object moving or sudden
appearing in the peripheral visual field, such as a
flash of light. This response serves to protect an
individual from unexpected intrusions in the
environment.
A voluntary level- (directed by the cortex), is
complete for the explicit purpose of gathering
information .
 Visual attention Visual attention is a critical
prerequisite for visual cognitive processing If
and how a person attends to an object or
information determines if and how that visual
input is analyzed by the CNS, which becomes
the basis for decision making .
People who do not attend to visual information
do not initiate a search for visual information ,
do not complete pattern recognition , do not lay
down a visual memory and cannot use this
visual input for decision making .
 Oculomotor control : It enables eye
movement to be completed quickly and
accurately and ensures perceptual stability .
Visual fields : Which lets the brain know

what's going on in the environment .

Visual acuity : Ensures that the visual

information sent to brain is accurate

Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor
Deficit:

A sensory disability related to processing

images.
Difficulty interpreting visual information.
Problems with reading, Maths, Maps, Charts,

Symbols and Pictures

VISUAL PERCEPTUAL
DYSFUNCTIONS AND ASSESSMENT
Disorders of visual perception are found in :
Stroke

Intracranial compressing masses

Neurosurgical procedures

Demyelinating disorders

Neurodevelopmental conditions (eg, autism)

Neurodegenerative disease
Schizophrenia and

depression.

Purpose of the assessment To identify the limitation in

activity or occupation. To link that limitation to presence
of a visual impairment To develop an appropriate
intervention plan based on the results of the assessment .
Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor
Deficit-Regarding writing
Signs and Symptoms

May have reversals: b for d, p for q or

inversions: u for n, w for m
Complains eyes hurt and itch, rubs eyes,

complains print blurs while reading

Turns head when reading across page or

holds paper at odd angles

Closes one eye while working, may yawn

while reading
Cannot copy accurately
Signs and Symptoms
Loses place frequently
Does not recognize an object/word if only

part of it is shown
Holds pencil too tightly; often breaks pencil

point/crayons
Struggles to cut or paste
Misaligns letters; may have messy papers,

which can include letters colliding, irregular

spacing, letters not on line
Assessment of specific visual
perceptual impairments
Visual object Agnosia :
caused due to lesion to the right occipital lobe . In this
the person is unable to recognize and identify an item using
visual means. Assessment is performed by asking the individual
to identify five common objects by sight.
Color agnosia : Refers to inability to remember and recognize the
specific colors for common objects in the environment. Also know
as Central Achromatopsia Assessment : present the client with
two common objects that are accurately colored and two objects
that are not accurately colored . Ask the patient to pick the object
that are not accurately colored. Color Anomia: refers to the
clients inability to name the color of the object. while the client
understand the differences between the different colors of
objects, they are unable to name the color of the object
accurately .
Color anomia : ask the client to name the color of
various objects in their environment .
Metamorphopsia : refers to visual distortion of
objects, such as the physical properties of size and
weight .Assessment includes presenting the client
with various objects of different weights and sizes.
Prosopagnosia : refers to an inability to
recognize and identify familiar faces caused due to
lesion of the right posterior hemisphere . Non
standardized test : to identify the names of the
people in photographs, with family members
VISUAL PERCEPTION
ASSESSMENT
Developmental Test of Visual Motor
Integration- 4th Edition (VMI-4)
Test of Gross Motor Development- 2nd Edition
(TGMD-2)
Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BVMGT)
Marianne Frostig Developmental Test of
Visual Perception (DTVP)
Developmental Test of Visual Perception- 2
(DTVP-2)
Motor-Free Perceptual Test- Revised (MVPT-R)
Management Strategies

Have student do word

and/or letter sorts.
Provide student with word
frames where the letter
needs to be filled in (i.e.,
student needs to fill in a b
Confusion of similarly or a d).
Clearly spaced words and
shaped letters &
problems, more white space
numbers (b/d, p/q/g, on pages, use teacher made
z/s) tests with fewer test items
per page.
Enlarge print.
Management Strategies
Use word sorts.
Use colored overlays.
Have students cross check
their decoding: Does it look
right? Does it sound right?
Does it make sense?
Provide student with copy of
notes, an outline or a Power
Point presentation.
Use cloze activities and
Frequent word frames.
reversals (was Use darker lines on the paper
instead of saw) and more space to write.
Management Strategies
Enlarge print on paper, or
via AV equipment.
Use a line guide or
bookmark.
Use visual tool to emphasize
text such as a colored
overlay, or framed
Difficulty tracking magnifier.
print Print worksheets or tests on
colored paper.
Letters appear to Try a reading pen that reads
wiggle or jump on the aloud.
page to the student Read aloud websites.
Management Strategies

Highlight symbol
before they start their
work.
Color code symbols
Problems e.g. blue for addition,
distinguishing yellow for subtraction.
between symbols (+,-, Allow students to work
<, >, etc.) with a study buddy.
Management Strategies
Use graph paper or turn
lined paper sideways.
Use a place value
chart or mat to record
problems.
Use both visual and
auditory directions;
break into steps.
Use manipulatives or
Difficulty aligning tactile activities.
math problems
Management Strategies

Increase distance
between
objects/manipulatives
for counting.
Model hand over
Difficulty with one to hand.
one correspondence
Management Strategies
Preferential seating
near the board or
screen.
Provide a copy of
Keynote or Powerpoint
slides for note taking.
Use pictures or icons
to help students zero
Difficulty copying in on key information.
things from the board
Management Strategies

Avoid grading handwriting

Allow students to dictate creative stories
Provide alternative for written assignments
Suggest use of pencil grips and specially

designed pencils and pens

Allow use of computer or word processor
Restrict copying tasks
Management Strategies
Provide tracking tools: ruler, text windows
Use large print books
Plan to order or check out books on tape
Experiment with different paper types:

pastels, graph, embossed raised line paper

Turn & Talk:

* Which strategies have you

tried and found successful?

* Name a new strategy that

youd like to try on!
Refrences
http://www.ldaamerica.us/aboutld/parents/ld
_basics/visual.asp
http://sensory.ning.com/
www.sensorysmarts.com
http://www.neurodiversity.com/sensory_integ

ration.html
Literacy of Teaching
Thank You