title: The Effects of Compensatory Scanning Training on Mobility in Patients with Homonymous Visual Field Defects: Further Support, Predictive Variables and Follow-Up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with homonymous visual field defects (HVFD) often report difficulty detecting obstacles in the periphery on their blind side in time when moving around. Recently, a randomized controlled trial showed that the InSight-Hemianopia Compensatory Scanning Training (IH-CST) specifically improved detection of peripheral stimuli and avoiding obstacles when moving around, especially in dual task situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The within-group training effects of the previously reported IH-CST are examined in an extended patient group. Performance of patients with HVFD on a pre-assessment, post-assessment and follow-up assessment and performance of a healthy control group are compared. Furthermore, it is examined whether training effects can be predicted by demographic characteristics, variables related to the visual disorder, and neuropsychological test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Performance on both subjective and objective measures of mobility-related scanning was improved after training, while no evidence was found for improvement in visual functions (including visual fields), reading, visual search and dot counting. Self-reported improvement did not correlate with improvement in objective mobility performance. According to the participants, the positive effects were still present six to ten months after training. No demographic characteristics, variables related to the visual disorder, and neuropsychological test results were found to predict the size of training effect, although some inconclusive evidence was found for more improvement in patients with left-sided HVFD than in patients with right-sided HFVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further support was found for a positive effect of IH-CST on detection of visual stimuli during mobility-related activities specifically. Based on the reports given by patients, these effects appear to be long-term effects. However, no conclusions can be drawn on the objective long-term training effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Royal Dutch Visio: Centre of Expertise for Blind and Partially Sighted People, Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gera A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3055-3920
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.affiliation: Royal Dutch Visio: Centre of Expertise for Blind and Partially Sighted People, Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bart J M
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Melis-Dankers
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wiebo H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tucha
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Royal Dutch Visio: Centre of Expertise for Blind and Partially Sighted People, Haren, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heutink
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006423:Hemianopsia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*