Design and implementation of optical stimulus system for rehabilitation and development of visual functions in children with low vision

Abstract

This article describes the development of a prototype of an optical stimulus system for rehabilitating children with impaired vision by lowering their visual stimulation threshold. In developing and even in some developed countries, the instruments that are currently used to improve children’s vision are quite unsophisticated and not ergonomic. Due to the difficulty in managing these rehabilitation exercises, we proposed a new system design for seamless and convenient treatments that are easier to use. The proposed device consists of a screen panel, a coach control board, and two child keys. The screen panel also includes 64*64 LEDs, the coach control board is capable of selecting thirteen menus, and each menu provides several different types of rehabilitation exercises. This system was evaluated by five special education teachers (SET) from a rehabilitation center for children with special needs. This prototype yielded positive results and the new design increased children’s attention to stimuli, reinforced their visual perception and memory, and improved their detection of geometric shapes, facial recognition, and detecting directions.