Abstract
Abstract Twenty persons with autism were assessed with two visual acuity tests with different demands to language competence, sustained attention and direction of the subject's attention. For only one of the persons with autism did the two tests reveal equal visual acuity. For 5 of the remaining 19 persons with autism did the two tests reveal quite different visual acuity, and 14 of the persons with autism did only respond to one of the two visual acuity tests and not to the other. Visual attention pattern was also assessed. Results suggested that two forms of rigid visual attention pattern among the persons with autism may form the basis for differences in their test performance. A relation between visual attention pattern and reduced accuracy in eye movements in persons with autism is suggested. Dependent on developmental pathways, the visual attention pattern may either be adaptive for information pickup, or maladaptive and protective from a chaotic visual world.
Highlights
Numerous studies discuss that peculiar visual behaviour of persons with autism may be caused by deviant attention rather basic visual problems. (Hermelin & O'Connor, 1970; Lemanek, Stone & Fishel, 1993; Sigman, Ungerer, Mundy & Sherman, 1997).- A recent study by Singer-Harris (1998) indicates that a particular attention deficit is common for all people with autism. Singer-Harris (1998) found that reduced accuracy in saccadic eye movements and problems with shifting attention were present in all people with autism and in none of the controls
All subjects obtained a score on Teller Acuity Cards (TAC), but nine persons scored lower than expected from the refraction data
Thirteen subjects had language required for 0sterberg Acuity Assessment Board (0ST), but only six of them obtained a score on 0ST
Summary
Numerous studies discuss that peculiar visual behaviour of persons with autism may be caused by deviant attention rather basic visual problems. (Hermelin & O'Connor, 1970; Lemanek, Stone & Fishel, 1993; Sigman, Ungerer, Mundy & Sherman, 1997).- A recent study by Singer-Harris (1998) indicates that a particular attention deficit is common for all people with autism. Singer-Harris (1998) found that reduced accuracy in saccadic eye movements and problems with shifting attention were present in all people with autism and in none of the controls. Numerous studies discuss that peculiar visual behaviour of persons with autism may be caused by deviant attention rather basic visual problems. Singer-Harris (1998) found that reduced accuracy in saccadic eye movements and problems with shifting attention were present in all people with autism and in none of the controls. A few participants previously diagnosed as autistic, but who no longer met the criteria for autism had no problems with accuracy in saccades, and were identical to control subjects. Courchesne et al (1994) argued that attention deficit in people with autism, such as shifting attention disturbances, caused by reduced accuracy in saccadic eye movements results from dysfunction of vermal lobules VI and VII in the cerebellum.
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