title: Acquisition of Visual Perception in Blind Adults Using the BrainPort Artificial Vision Device.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether intensive low vision rehabilitation would confer any functional improvement in a sample of blind adults using the BrainPort artificial vision device.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen adults ages 28-69 yr (n=10 men and n=8 women) who had light perception only or worse vision bilaterally spent up to 6 hr per day for 1 wk undergoing structured rehabilitation interventions. The functional outcomes of object identification and word recognition were tested at baseline and after rehabilitation training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, participants were unable to complete the two functional assessments. After participation in the 1-wk training protocol, participants were able to use the BrainPort device to complete the two tasks with moderate success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Without training, participants were not able to perform above chance level using the BrainPort device. As artificial vision technologies become available, occupational therapy practitioners can play a key role in clients' success or failure in using these devices.
authors.affiliation: Amy C. Nau, OD, is Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Eye Center; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine; and Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Korb & Associates, Boston MA; nauxac@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nau
authors.affiliation: Christine Pintar, MS, is Clinical Research Coordinator, Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pintar
authors.affiliation: Aimee Arnoldussen, PhD, is Technology Assessment Program Manager, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnoldussen
authors.affiliation: Christopher Fisher is Research Assistant, Fox Center for Vision Restoration, Sensory Substitution Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011932:Reading; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065853:Spatial Learning; D013236:Stereognosis; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D057488:Visual Prosthesis / Q000523:psychology