Abstract
There is a higher incidence of diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children with visual impairment and blindness (VIB) than in typically sighted children. However, we currently lack appropriate assessment measures to fully understand the neurodevelopment of children with VIB. Numerous factors, such as common characteristics between children with VIB and ASD and the reliance of visual behaviours in assessments of ASD, complicate the clinical and diagnostic understanding of these children. This scoping review aims to describe the published knowledge on ASD assessment in children with VIB. The literature search was performed through MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus. Reference lists of pertinent articles were scrutinized for snowball searching. Articles retained were based on original empirical studies, were relevant to or conducted with children or adolescents with VIB and described assessments for ASD. Pertinent information was extracted, and a thematic analysis was performed. Only 13 articles retrieved pertained to and described the assessment of ASD in children with VIB. The following themes emerged: appropriateness of commonly used ASD assessment tools for children with VIB, modification of pre-existing ASD assessment tools for a better assessment, creation of new assessment tools for this population, time points of assessment, and professional training and practice guidelines. The reviewed literature highlights that there is still much work to be done to better understand the complex relationship between VIB and ASD, and consensus is needed on how best to go about assessing neurodevelopmental disorders in children with VIB.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Absoud, M., Parr, J., Salt, A., & Dale, N. (2011). Developing a schedule to identify social communication difficulties and autism spectrum disorder in young children with visual impairment. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 53(3), 285–288. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03846.x
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
Andrews, R., & Wyver, S. (2005). Autistic tendencies: Are there different pathways for blindness and autism spectrum disorder? British Journal of Visual Impairment, 23(2), 52–57.
Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32.
Bartoli, G., Bulgarelli, D., & Molina, P. (2019). Theory of Mind development in children with visual impairment: The contribution of the adapted comprehensive test ToM storybooks. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(9), 3494–3503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04064-3
Bulgarelli, D., Testa, S., & Molina, P. (2015). Factorial structure of the ‘ToM storybooks’: A test evaluating multiple components of theory of mind. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 33(2), 187–202. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12062
Dale, N., & Salt, A. (2007). Early support developmental journal for children with visual impairment: The case for a new developmental framework for early intervention. Child: Care, Health, & Development, 33(6), 684–690. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00798.x
Dale, N., & Sonksen, P. (2002). Developmental outcome, including setback, in young children with severe visual impairment. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 44(9), 613–622. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0012162201002651
de Vaan, G., Vervloed, M., Peters-Scheffer, N.-C., van Gent, T., Knoors, H., & Verhoeven, L. (2016). Behavioural assessment of autism spectrum disorders in people with multiple disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 60(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12206
de Vaan, G., Vervloed, M. P., Peters-Scheffer, N. C., van Gent, T., Knoors, H., & Verhoeven, L. (2018). Assessing autism spectrum disorder in people with sensory impairments combined with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 30, 471–487.
de Verdier, K., Fernell, E., & Ek, U. (2018). Challenges and successful pedagogical strategies: Experiences from six Swedish students with blindness and autism in different school settings. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(2), 520–532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3360-5
Fazzi, E., Micheletti, S., Galli, J., Rossi, A., Gitti, F., & Molinaro, A. (2019). Autism in children with cerebral and peripheral visual impairment: Fact or artifact? Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 31, 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2019.05.008
Gense, M. H., & Gense, D. J. (2005). Autism spectrum disorders and visual impairment: Meeting students’ learning needs. AFB Press.
Gibbons, R. (2005). Guidelines for teaching students with visual impairments and autism spectrum disorders. In L. Pring (Ed.), Autism and blindness: Research and reflections (pp. 158–180). London: Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Goodman, R., & Minne, C. (1995). Questionnaire screening for comorbid pervasive developmental disorders in congenitally blind children: A pilot study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25(2), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178504
Hobson, P., & Lee, A. (2010). Reversible autism among congenitally blind children? A controlled follow-up study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatric and Allied Disciplines, 51(11), 1235–1241. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02274.x
Jure, R., Pogonza, R., & Rapin, I. (2016). Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in blind children: Very high prevalence, potentially better outlook. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(3), 749–759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2612-5
Jutley-Neilson, J., Harris, G., & Kirk, J. (2013). The identification and measurement of autistic features in children with septo-optic dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia and isolated hypopituitarism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 4310–4318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.09.004
Kraijer, D., & de Bildt, A. (2005). The PDD-MRS: An instrument for identification of autism spectrum disorders in persons with mental retardation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(4), 499–513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-5040-0
Kuban, K., O’Shea, M., Allred, E., Tager-Flusberg, H., Goldstein, D., & Leviton, A. (2009). Positive screening on the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) in extremely low gestational age newborns. The Journal of Pediatrics, 154(4), 535–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.10.011
Lord, C., & Rutter, M. (2012). Autism diagnostic observation schedule (2nd ed.). Western Psychological Services.
Mayes, S. (2012). Checklist for autism spetrum disorder. Western Psychological Services.
Molinaro, A., Micheletti, S., Rossi, A., Gitti, F., Galli, J., Merabet, L., & Fazzi, E. (2020). Autistic-like features in visually impaired children: A review of literature and directions for future research. Brain Science, 10(8), 507. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10080507
Mukaddes, N., Kilincaslan, A., Kucukyazici, G., Sevketoglu, T., & Tuncer, S. (2007). Autism in visually impaired individuals. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 61(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01608.x
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Parr, J., Dale, N., Shaffer, L., & Salt, A. (2010). Social communication difficulties and autism spectrum disorder in young children with optic nerve hypoplasia and/or septo-optic dysplasia. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 52(10), 917–921. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03664.x
Pili, R., Zolo, B., Farris, P., Penna, V., Valinotti, S., Carrogu, G., Gaviano, L., Berti, R., Pili, L., & Petretto, D. (2021). Autism and visual impairment: A first approach to a complex relationship. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 17, 212–216. https://doi.org/10.2174/1745017092117010212
Robins, D. L., Fein, D., & Barton, M. L. (1999). Modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) follow-up interview
Rutter, M., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The social communication questionnaire. Western Psychological Services.
Rutter, M., LeCouteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). Autism diagnostic interview—Revised. Western Psychological Services.
Schopler, E., Reichler, R. J., & Renner, B. R. (1986). The childhood autism rating scale (CARS). Western Psychological.
Sherman, M., Shapiro, T., & Glassman, M. (1983). Play and language in developmentally disordered preschoolers: A new approach to classification. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22(6), 511–524.
Skuse, D., Warrington, R., Bishop, D., Chowdhury, U., Lau, J., Mandy, W., & Place, M. (2004). The developmental, dimensional and diagnostic interview (3di): A novel computerized assessment for autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(5), 548–558.
Suhumaran, S., Yeleswarapu, S. P., Daniel, L., & Wong, C. M. (2020). Congenital blindness and autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Diagnostic challenges and intervention options. BMJ Case Report, 13(2), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-232981
Wechsler, D. (1992). The Wechsler intelligence scale for children (3rd ed.). Psychological Corporation.
Williams, M., Fink, C., Zamora, I., & Borchert, M. (2014). Autism assessment in children with optic nerve hypoplasia and other vision impairments. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 56(1), 66–72.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
The initial proposal for the review was conceptualized by MS. Database searches were conducted by ET. Both authors reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full-texts of the retrieved articles. The manuscript was written, reviewed, and revised by both authors.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. All co-authors have seen and agree with the contents of the manuscript and there is no financial interest to report. We certify that the submission is original work and is not under review at any other publication.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Stevenson, M., Tedone, E. Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children with Visual Impairment and Blindness: A Scoping Review. J Autism Dev Disord (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06300-x
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06300-x