Low Vision Online  
 
 
previous next
 

Chapter
Objectives

Visual Development

Visual Skills Used for Functional Vision

Areas of Visual Skills

Links &
References

Quiz

7 Areas of Visual Skills

child

Summary of functional assessment procedure

These 19 activities are divided into 7 sections. They are suggestions to test functional vision

Items Ideas to Assess Skills
1. Awareness and attention to details

a. Attention

  • not needed if VA testing is done

  • use bright object, size of hand

b. Reach

  • up to 1 metre

  • use small stones, paper balls

  • from big to small

  • centre, left, right...

2. Control of eye movements- tracking

a. Maintain gaze

  • small objects for rolling- to 4 metres

  • different contrast

b. Track an object

  • distance 1 metre

  • use bright objects

  • up and down, side to side, diagonal and near to far

3. Control of eye movements- scanning

a. Shift gaze

  • distance 1 metre

  • 1 object in each hand

  • horizontal, vertical

b. Change fixation

  • distance 3 metres

  • tester bright object

  • client small object

  • near, far, near

4. Discrimination of objects

a. Find object

  • distance 4-5 metres

  • familiar, different contrast objects, e.g. kettle

b. follow path

  • route over path with borders and winding

c. Avoid objects

  • route with ground obstacles, puddles, branches

d. Identify near and distant objects

  • near, 1 metre- coin, pencil, knife, spoon, stone

  • distance- activities, scene

5. Discrimination of details to identify actions and match objects

a. Imitation of body gestures and actions

  • distance 5 metres

  • gross movements

b. Facial expressions

  • distance 2 metres

c. Match size

  • use coins, or leaves or buttons

6. Discrimination of details in pictures

a. Recognise actions

b. Find objects in a complicated picture

7. Identification and perception of patterns, numbers and words

a. Match abstract figures

b. Match numbers

c. Match shapes with inner details

d. Match words and pictures

Adapted from "Assessment of Low Vision in Developing Countries" in the Low Vision Kit

Record the actual response, not what the person says they can do or you think they can do

Make notes on:

  • the objects used for the assessment
  • how easy or difficult the work was
  • the person's comments
  • behaviour during the assessment
  • distance for each item
  • the time taken to finish the activity, for example, 'quick', 'needed a long time', 'slow to respond' or 'scanning slow and random'
  • if low vision devices were available and used

Here is an example of a form that can be completed to assess a child

Child Assessment Form

Printer Friendly Version

Checkpoint:

Which is more important for orientation and mobility; seeing details or scanning?

Which is more important for orientation and mobility contrast sensitivity or colour vision?

 
 
previous top next