Visual Development

It is often difficult to assess the amount and use of vision of young children. Traditional vision tests might not be able to be used. Methods need to be used that do not rely on a verbal response from the child. It is useful to observe if visual development is normal or delayed

Age	Visual Responses and Capabilities in Normal Visual Development
1-3 months	attends to light and forms moves eyes to search and explore visually follows moving objects and lights attends to novelty and complex patterns stares at faces eyes fixate, converge and focus, discriminates faces swipes at or reaches towards an object
3-7 months	eye movements smoother, acuity improving manipulates and looks at objects eyes shift focus from objects to body parts attempts to reach for and move objects visually explores environment recognises familiar faces and objects tracks objects across entire field of vision shifts visual attention from object to object reaches and rescues dropped objects fluid eye movements
7-12 months	manipulates objects looking at results watches movements and scribbling visual acuity and accommodation good looks for hidden objects imitates facial expressions and gross body movements plays looking games
1-2 years	all optical skills refined fits objects together matches objects points to objects in book imitates strokes and actions scribbles or marks with a pen or brush
2-4 years	visually inspects objects in distance imitates movements of others matches colours and like forms increases visual memory span orders objects by colour regards and reaches matches geometric forms draws crude circle inserts circle square and triangle puts pegs in holes and two puzzle pieces together matches identical shaped objects by size
4-7 years	discriminates, identifies and reproduces abstract figures and symbols traces, copies and draws figures sorts like figures by a single detail identifies and perceives relationships in pictures, abstract figures and symbols identifies missing detail in pictures identifies perceives and reproduces symbols singly and in combination (letters and words) identifies letters in different print styles reproduces abstract symbols from memory identifies words on sight
This table is adapted from Barraga "Development of efficiency in visual functioning rationale for a comprehensive program" Journal Visual Impairment and Blindess
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The functional vision assessment and training is based on a comparison of normal visual functioning to the functional level that a person who is vision impaired achieves. Deficient visual skills can then be identified and training given to develop these skills. Whilst reading through the stages, try to think about babies or children with normal vision that you know of in each age group. Have you ever observed some of these behaviours? Some children might have normal vision but delayed visual development due to intellectual or physical impairment.

This is a way of finding out if there are problems in vision and visual development.

Visual Skills to Assess

Visual skills are ordered in 7 steps. An assessment should include activities that follow the order laid described in areas of visual skills

Factors to consider when choosing objects for assessment: size contrast position familiarity distance colour lighting simplicity and detail

 

Checkpoint: Name the age at which you would typically expect a child to start to:

follow moving objects and lights

watch movements and scribbling

match geometric forms

fit objects together

reach towards objects

play looking games

imitate facial expressions