Cerebral Visual Disorders Classification System
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and validation of a new classification system and assessment protocol for children with cerebral visual disorders
IRAS ID
168068
Contact name
Naomi Dale
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL Institute of Child Health
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI), caused by damage to visual processing pathways in the brain, is the most common cause of severe visual impairment in children in the UK. However, the current diagnostic framework for such disorders is poorly defined and attempts at systematic classification of CVI have not yet reached cross-disciplinary agreement. These children often also suffer from other impairments which may further complicate the diagnostic process. This study aims to develop and evaluate a novel reliable and valid assessment protocol and framework for classifying children with CVI, taking a cross-disciplinary approach to diagnosis. The classification framework and assessment protocol are based on a systematic review of the current scientific evidence. The assessment protocol has been developed to evaluate the different impairments encompassed by the term CVI, to classify children into clinically meaningful subgroups. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of the visual impairment on function at the visual, cognitive and behavioural levels.
The feasibility of the framework will be evaluated on a representative clinical sample of 70 children with suspected CVI of all ages, vision levels, intellectual functioning and paediatric conditions. This will include a high functioning subgroup of 20 school-aged children with normal cognitive functioning. All children will undergo vision, ophthalmological and cognitive assessment. The children in the high functioning subgroup will participate in additional tasks investigating specific higher-order visuoperceptual abilities.
Data will be analysed to create distinct clusters of visual impairment symptoms related specifically to CVI, which each have clear targets for intervention in medical/educational/healthcare settings.
The clinical feasibility of the classification system and assessment protocol will finally be evaluated using a Delphi Survey with experts in CVI across the UK. We aim to translate the findings of the study to immediate clinical practice at Great Ormond Street Hospital.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0848
Date of REC Opinion
27 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion