Visual-perceptual Function in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Objective To compare visual-perceptual function between children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy who have periventricular leukomalacia and unilateral spastic cerebral palsy without periventricular leukomalacia. Method Twenty-one children with spastic cerebral palsy (11 bilateral, 10 unilateral) were enrolled and their visual-perceptual function were assessed using K-DTVP-2 (Korean developmental test of visual perception 2). Results K-DTVP-2 in the bilateral group showed significant dysfunction when compared with the unilateral group. Among 6 sub-items of K-DTVP-2, scores related to visual closure and copying were particularly reduced in the bilateral group. There was discrepancy of verbal and performance IQ in the bilateral group which was not apparent in the unilateral group. Conclusion In children with spastic cerebral palsy, the bilaterally affected group had characteristic features of visual-perceptual dysfunction.