Here’s What You Can Do Right Now
Download our 6 step helpful checklist if you have a child who’s blind, visually impaired or living with multiple disabilities.
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) or also referred to as Cerebral Visual Impairment is a decreased visual response due to a neurological problem affecting the visual part of the brain. Typically, a young child with CVI has a normal eye exam or has an eye condition that cannot account for the abnormal visual behavior. CVI is the most common cause of permanent visual impairment in children ages 1-3.
CVI in infants and young children is comonly the result of:
- hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy when present in a newborn or periventricular leukomalacia when present in a preterm infant
- traumatic brain injury due to non-accidental trauma (sometimes formerly referred to as “shaken baby syndrome”) and accidental head injuries
- neonatal hypoglycemia infections or more comonly know as viral meningitis
- severe epilepsy
- metabolic disorders
Symptoms of Cortical Visual Impairment
- Abnormal light response — light gazing or photophobia
- Blunted or avoidant social gaze
- Brief fixations
- Poor visual acuity
- Visual field loss
Even without knowing the underlying medical cause, vision specialists can begin solving the puzzle of how to communicate with a child with development disabilities such as Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).
Early Intervention Is Critical and Here’s Why
Young children who are blind, visually impaired or have multiple disabilities increase their visual functioning, sensory awareness, communication and social skills in our early intervention program. Also, our services improve children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. We help families become successful advocates for their children’s education and care. Children ages birth to 3 receive home visits. Children ages 4 to 6 participate in quarterly events. Our early intervention specialists collaborate with family members, medical professionals, caregivers and teachers.
Here’s What You Can Do Right Now
Download our 6 step helpful checklist if you have a child who’s blind, visually impaired or living with multiple disabilities.