Visual Impairment as a Learning Disability in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of non-progressive brain disorders causing movement, posture, and motor function impairments. Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) affects visual pathways, affecting clarity of vision, visual fields, and occulomotor incoordination. Symptoms vary in nature and severity due to the complexity of the visual cortex. Physiotherapy (PT) is essential for treating CP, promoting physical, mental, and social well-being. Physical therapists also teach parents, how to care for their children at home, including feeding, bathing, dressing, and other activities. CVI is often linked to CP and can lead to various visual problems, including reduced visual guidance of movement. To effectively manage this condition, a multidisciplinary approach is required, as children with CVI often have neurological deficits in addition to their visual problems. Visual function assessment involves measuring thresholds or limits for each eye, while functional vision assessment is conducted in the child’s environment with both eyes open. Levels of vision can be classified into light perception, intermittent fixation, reliable focus, constant attention to small objects, and reliable visual acuity. Children with Visual Difficulties (CVI) exhibit distinct visual behaviours and require proper training. Sensory room training improves gross and fine motor abilities, and early intervention reduces issues associated with these diseases. Physical therapy interventions are very important for this population’s health and wellness, which can be focused on acquiring and improving independence in motor abilities, visual function, coordination, balance and general health improvement. Children with CVI are at danger of developing neurological dysfunction. An early intervention and adequate training for young CP children with CVI can improve motor abilities and reduce issues associated with these diseases. The following review will help to understand briefly about visual impairments in patients with CP, mainly focusing on new therapeutic interventions following visual impairments that are effective and easily administered.

Keywords

• cerebral visual impairment
• motor abilities
• multidisciplinary approach
• physiotherapy
• vision assessment