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CVD

Cerebral Visual Disturbance

Olga Miller:

Lecture Jan 2011

Olga Miller:

Lecture Jan 2011

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What is CVD?

• Disturbance of vision - damage to the posterior pathways and/or brainlobes dealing with vision;

• Estimates vary but around 60% of the brain cortex is involved in visual perception;

• Reflexes in the pupil (eye) are normal and nystagmus is rare.

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Numbers

• Approximately one in one thousand children is visually impaired (around 50 children per average health district of 250,000) - a significant percentage will have cerebral visual impairment or CVD (University of Birmingham medical school lecture)

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Other ocular problems?

• Often in association with other visual problems;

• Degree of neurological damage and visual impairment depends on time of onset as well as the location and the intensity of the insult (Bonamie 2000)

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Characteristics of the development of children with CVD

• Impaired movement in all four limbs

• Disturbed sensory integration

• Personality and social behaviour - regulating tension/relaxation, dealing with frustration/tolerance, interactions, dealing with structure, attention and concentration

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