1. Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
Group presentation
Region 4 GROUP A  (S. Jackson/C. Jones/T. Needham)

2. What Is cvi?
There may be a diagnosis of cvi when: A child’s eye movements, pupil reactions and eye examinations may appear to be normal--yet the child is unable to see normally. Cortical (aka Cerebral) Visual Impairment (CVI) is an acquired bilateral visual acuity loss caused by brain damage to the occipital lobes and/or damage to the posterior visual pathway associated with the visual cortex (Pictures follow). It can be congenital or adventitious. Some form of brain damage produces disturbed and inefficient visual processing and visual sense.

3. Cvi is ALSO brain-based:

4. What causes cvi?
CVI is caused by any event that produces damage to the visual parts of the brain, including: Stroke * hydrocephalus (increased brain pressure), * seizures, * decreases in blood flow or oxygen to the brain infection (meningitis or encephalitis), or head trauma. Zika (& microcephaly) could also cause cvi. Head trauma, accidental or intentional (as in the case of Shaken Baby Syndrome), is the leading cause of CVI in children in the United States.

5. What ARE CVI CHARACTERISTICS? (10)
Unusual Attention to Color
Difficulties with Visual Novelty
Attention to Movement
Reflex Responses May Differ
Latency (Delayed Response to Look)
Difficulties with Distance Viewing
Complexity (Challenges in Making Sense of Things)
Light Gazing
Visual Field Differences (Optic Radiations Different/Head Turns/Not Paying Attention to Things
Absence of A Visually-Directed Reach

6. What ARE THE PHASES OF CVI? (3)

7. Can cvi be treated?
Yes! degrees of success vary given phases & specific iep diagnoses. Once treated sustainably, Improvement can happen in phases and in ranges....
It is important to start early intervention to help stimulate visual development, Since there are certain timeframe(S) for visual development, so earlier treatment helps to maximize improvement.
To further maximize cvi treatment, parents and caregivers should keep a written list of specific changes and observations for discussion at each physician visit. PARENTS Should SUPPORT TREATMENT ROUTINELY.
Treatment may include glasses or eye muscle surgery if helpful to maximize visual function.

8. Common Treatments
Visual stimulating exercises (vseS include feeling/ touching various materials and trying to recognize them)
Vses are beneficial to children with CVI in that they are better able to use their vision.
Effective visual stimulation can help, for example, with the way in which a child is able to use and switch his visual attention.
This is done by giving the correct stimulation at the correct frequency, intensity and duration in the correct therapeutic environment – individualized!

9. Treatments – some EXPERT MEtHODS
TREATMENT NEEDS TIME: cortical visual impairment treated requires patience because the person may take a while to recognize simple objects and faces even after consistent exposure.
DR. ROMAN
DR. LUECK [FVE]
& DR. DUTTON
D. SHELINE

10. Common Treatments – Making custom literacy tools

11. Treatments – FOR MORE KEY STRAtEGIES & TOOLS, VISIT MENU AT

12. functional implications from cvi:
PROVIDE TIME TO PROCESS THINGS VISUALLY.
USE MOVEMENT AND BRIGHT, SHINY COLORS TO ACTIVATE VISUAL ATTENTION AND CAPITALIZE ON VARYING VISUAL FIELDS AND USE OF PERIPHERAL VISION.
PRESENT ITEMS FROM THE SIDE FIRST, THEN MOVE THEM TOWARDS THE CENTER--WHICH CAN OFTEN HELP A CHILD RESPOND VISUALLY.
MIND THE LIGHTING! SEE SHELINE’s WORK.
FREQUENT “VISION BREAKS” HELP, AS WELL AS REFRAINING FROM PRIMARILY VISUAL TASKS WHEN A CHILD IS HUNGRY, TIRED OR ILL. SEEING TAKES ENERGY.

13. functional implications of the condition
Repetition and use of familiar, concrete and preferred objects helps. Develop a routine way to present items/complete tasks to be used by all caregivers.
Avoid clutter and overstimulation. Present items one at a time on a dark background.
Select books with one large picture per page or a solid color ball or blocks. Keep it simple and increase visual complexity slowly over time.

14. References (More on weebly site)
Cortical Visual Impairment (2014). Retrieved from
Cortical Visual Impairment Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet (Fall 1998). Retrieved from
What is CVI? (2012). Retrieved from
Brown, C. (n.d.). Assessing and facilitating the use of functional vision in young children who are visually impaired. Retrieved from
Good, W., Jan, J., Burden, S., Skoczenski, A. Rowan, A. (2001). Recent advances in cortical visual impairment. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 43: 56 – 60.

15. Link to resources (www.seevisite.weebly.com)
Case Study (TSBVI)
Information regarding CASSIE
Brochure and fact sheet
See also parent brochures, teacher tools, videos & livebinder

16. THANK YOU! (www.seevisite.weebly.com)