title: Normative data for three tests of visuocognitive function in primary school children: cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an increasing recognition that visuocognitive difficulties occur in children with neurodevelopmental problems. We obtained normative data for the performance of primary school children using three tests of visuocognitive function that are practicable in a clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested 214 children aged between 4 and 11 years without known developmental problems, using tests to assess (1) orientation recognition and adaptive movement (postbox task), (2) object recognition (rectangles task) and (3) spatial integration (contours task).
  
  
  RESULTS
  96% could do the postbox task with ease-only 4% (all aged <9 years) exhibited minor difficulties. Errors in the rectangles task decreased with age: 33% of children aged 4-5 years had major difficulties but >99% of children aged ≥6 years had no, or minor, difficulties. Median scores for the contours task improved with age, and after age 8 years, 99% could see the contour using long-range spatial integration rather than density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These different aspects of children's visuocognitive performance were testable in a field setting. The data provide a benchmark by which to judge performance of children with neurodevelopmental problems and may be useful in assessment with a view to providing effective supportive strategies for children whose visuocognitive skills are lower than the expectation for their age.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, Avon, UK Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals of Bristol Foundation NHS Trust, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Iain D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals of Bristol Foundation NHS Trust, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals of Bristol Foundation NHS Trust, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals of Bristol Foundation NHS Trust, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals of Bristol Foundation NHS Trust, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Warnes
authors.affiliation: Emerson's Green Primary School, Bristol City Council, Bristol, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hyvarinen
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014787:Vision Tests; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Child health (paediatrics); Diagnostic tests/Investigation; Epidemiology; Rehabilitation; Visual perception