Testing the hard to test: a pilot study examining the role of questionnaires in eliciting visual behaviours in children with autistic spectrum disorder

Constable, Tania, Pilling, Rachel Fiona and Woodhouse, J. Margaret ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7149-5077 2024. Testing the hard to test: a pilot study examining the role of questionnaires in eliciting visual behaviours in children with autistic spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 10.1007/s10803-024-06509-w

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Abstract

Purpose There is a higher prevalence of visual problems in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared with the neuro-typical population. Issues relating to visual perception can be evident as atypical visual behaviours (ViBes). The aim of the study was to compare findings of parents and eye health professionals using questionnaires to describe visual function in young children with ASD. Materials and methods Parents/Caregivers of patients diagnosed with ASD attending routine hospital eye clinics were invited to participate. A questionnaire to draw out presence of ViBes was completed by the parent prior to attending clinic. The clinician independently completed the same questionnaire and undertook a clinical ocular assessment. Results 32 children were recruited (mean age 7 years, range 4–11). Most caregivers indicated they had noted at least one atypical ViBe (97%, median 5, range 0–8). Parental-reported ViBe8 scores were higher than clinician-reported scores (p = 0.04). The most commonly reported ViBes by both groups related to use of vision at the same time as other senses, and atypical fixation (e.g. looking away during speech or side viewing). There was weak correlation between visual acuity and parental ViBe8 score (rho = 0.364) and no correlation between refractive error and parental ViBe8 score (rho = 0.047). Conclusion Clinicians were likely to under-report atypical visual function compared with parent. Refraction and visual acuity alone do not detect all visual problems in children with ASD. A Visual Behaviour (ViBe) questionnaire offers a structured approach and shared language to allow documentation of functional visual assessment for both parents, carers, and educational professionals. Use of the ViBe questionnaire may promote understanding between caregiver and professional and provide a baseline for visual behaviours.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Optometry and Vision Sciences
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0162-3257
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	24 January 2025
Date of Acceptance:	30 July 2024
Last Modified:	07 Feb 2025 11:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175576

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