Suggested materials to use in Assessment for Range 5-6

Color

Objects continue to feature preferred color, but additional color may now be appropriate

       

Movement

Continues to be an important factor to initiate visual attention

      

Visual latency

Latency present only when student is tired, stressed or overstimulated

Visual field preferences

Field preferences decreasing with familiar inputs

Complexity

Tolerates low levels of familiar background noise

Simple patterned backgrounds may be possible

      

Two dimensional materials may be appropriate at the end of Phase II (CVI range 6-7). Remember a child needs to understand that symbols/pictures represent/mean something …link the symbol/picture to something that the child is familiar with (see Literacy tabs of this website for more information).

   

Regards familiar faces when voice does not compete; may show interest in own image in a mirror 

Light

Is no longer a distractor, but can be used to initiate visual interest or when environment complexity has increased (to anchor interest); continue to make the object the visual target not the light itself; objects presented should have a purpose – for the child to interact through activation, grasping, cause/effect

  

Distance viewing

Visual attention extends up to 4-6 feet

Consider marking places where the child travels with preferred colored sign or tape to alert them to their environment (doorways, sinks, garbage cans…)

Atypical visual reflexes

Blink response to touch consistently present

Visual threat response intermittently present

Novelty

Use familiar objects to initiate visual attention

New objects should share some visual characteristics of familiar ones

   

Absence of visually guided reach

Visually guided reach used with familiar objects or preferred color