Cerebral Visual Impairment and Dysgenesis of Corpus Callosum in Multidisabled Children Aged 1 to 9 Years Old - Appl Med Inform 2009;25:26-36

Aims: To emphasize the functional vision characteristics in visually impaired multiple disabled children (MDVI) aged 2 to 9 years old related to brain damages on magnetic resonance imaging in different cortical and subcortical areas and in the corpus callosum region. Material and Method: 12 MDVI children with severe and mild neurological disorders were medically and neuropsychological assessed. The clinical psychological, neurological and ophthalmological – and paraclinical methods – visual evoked potential (VEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were carried out in order to outline the complete profile of each child. The assessment was completed by morphometric measurement of corpus callosum and brain. Results: 10 of infants with severe neurological disorders showed ocular disorders such as ocular motility and visual function abnormalities. Severe cognitive and psychomotor retardation were associated in visual disorders in MDVI children. Significant correlation between neurological disorders, neuropsychological [τ(12) = 0.783, p = 0.001] evaluation and visual acuity [τ(12) = 0.783, p = 0.001] were found in multiple disabled children. The significant difference of diameter [t(22) = -4.858, p = 0.000] and surface of corpus callosum [t(22) = -6.254, p = 0.000] in multiple disabled children compared with control group was found. Conclusion: The structured assessment of visually impaired children due to neurological disorders, as early as possible, is the remarkably key which reveals the functionality of child and outlines the appropriate developmental and educational rehabilitation.