Visual Testing of Preverbal and Nonverbal Young Children

This report is a critique of vision tests currently used in testing children too young or too impaired to communicate by speech. The impaired group can include deaf. mentally retarded. autistic. neurologically impaired or emotionally disturbed children. First. tests used to measure seven visual functions arc described in terms of procedure, instructions and necessary equipment. Second, the tests are analyzed in terms of their suitability for this population. Clarity of instruction. the developmental capacity of children and the interpretability of childrens responses are discussed. In general, tests currently used are not optimally matched to the abilities and interests of preverbal and nonverbal children.