Deficits in Face Recognition and Consequent Quality-of-Life Factors in Individuals with Cerebral Visual Impairment

Abstract

Individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) frequently report challenges with face recognition, and subsequent difficulties with social interactions. However, there is limited empirical evidence supporting poor face recognition in individuals with CVI and the potential impact on social–emotional quality-of-life factors. Moreover, it is unclear whether any difficulties with face recognition represent a broader ventral stream dysfunction. In this web-based study, data from a face recognition task, a glass pattern detection task, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were analyzed from 16 participants with CVI and 25 controls. In addition, participants completed a subset of questions from the CVI Inventory to provide a self-report of potential areas of visual perception that participants found challenging. The results demonstrate a significant impairment in the performance of a face recognition task in participants with CVI compared to controls, which was not observed for the glass pattern task. Specifically, we observed a significant increase in threshold, reduction in the proportion correct, and an increase in response time for the faces, but not for the glass pattern task. Participants with CVI also reported a significant increase in sub-scores of the SDQ for emotional problems and internalizing scores after adjusting for the potential confounding effects of age. Finally, individuals with CVI also reported a greater number of difficulties on items from the CVI Inventory, specifically the five questions and those related to face and object recognition. Together, these results indicate that individuals with CVI may demonstrate significant difficulties with face recognition, which may be linked to quality-of-life factors. This evidence suggests that targeted evaluations of face recognition are warranted in all individuals with CVI, regardless of their age.

Parent-Reported Visual Concerns in Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment Presenting to a Pediatric Neurology Clinic

“…This finding is in agreement with the earlier literature that has reported face identification as one of the symptoms. 20,21 The significantly different frequency distribution of visual concerns across the 3 phases of CVI based on the functional vision score is an important finding. Functional vision assessment is often carried out in vision rehabilitation centres and is specifically important in children with developmental delays.…”

“…This finding is in agreement with the earlier literature that has reported face identification as one of the symptoms. 20 , 21 …”

Toward Removing Barriers in the Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Care of Individuals With Cerebral Visual Impairments

“…Because CVI is so varied in its expression, the types of educational interventions required are extensive and need to address multidimensional concerns that go beyond vision and visual-perceptual skills. This includes vision use in functional tasks, decoding multisensory information, compensatory strategies, consideration of CVI's broader impact on other domains of function (Bauer et al, 2023; Ben Itzhak et al, 2021; Chorna et al, 2017; Lueck & Dutton, 2015; Morelli et al, 2022; Overbeek et al, 2022; Philip, n.d.; Pilling, 2023; Weden et al, 2022). Moreover, interventions are not just visual or related to other domains of development or functional skills; many with CVI have developed issues with confidence, have anxiety, social difficulties and mental health problems including depression.…”