Visual perceptive functioning in Japanese schoolchildren born with very low birth weight

Abstract

Abstract Background We aimed to use the Wide-range Assessment of Vision-related Essential Skills (WAVES) to evaluate the visual perception of Japanese schoolchildren born weighing < 1500 g, who did not need support class and had an average IQ score. Methods The very-low birth weight infant group (VLBWI group) included 38 (17 male, 21 female) first-grade elementary schoolchildren born between April 2009 and March 2013 at Osaka Medical College Hospital and Saiseikai Suita Hospital. The scores for the 10 subtests and 4 indices of WAVES were calculated for all participants and compared to the WAVES normative database of schoolchildren in the same grade (C group). We assessed whether clinical history was associated with WAVES score in the VLBWI group. Results Compared with the C group, the participants in the VLBWI group had significantly lower scores for form tracing (success and rate scores), figure-ground speed, discrimination accuracy, visual memory, copying, and the indices of WAVES, except for the eye-hand coordination general index. The scores for line tracing (ratio) and eye-hand coordination accuracy index were significantly lower in participants who were born at gestational age < 28 weeks than in those born at gestational age ≥ 28 weeks. Copying performance was significantly lower in participants with than without chronic lung disease. Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate the visual perception of schoolchildren born weighing < 1500 g in Japan. We report lower scores of WAVES’ subtests on processing speed in these children, implying they might have increased risk of poor school performance and learning disabilities.