title: Visual function in autism spectrum disorders: a critical review.
abstract: Studies have shown considerable evidence of visual dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. Anomalies in visual information processing can have a major effect on the life quality of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. We summarise the hypotheses and theories underlying neural aetiologies and genetic factors that cause these disorders, as well as the possible influences of unusual sensory processing on the communications and behaviour characterised by the autistics. In particular, we review the impact of these dysfunctions on visual performance.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. abakroon@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Asmaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakroon
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.|Departments of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Vasudevan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lakshminarayanan
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000209:etiology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003867:Depth Perception; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000209:etiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields
keywords: autism spectrum disorders; colour vision; neural processing; vision tests; visual acuity; visual performance; visual search