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Results for “Persons with Visual Disabilities”

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At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Early 'visual' cortex activation correlates with superior verbal memory performance in the blind.

The visual cortex may be more modifiable than previously considered. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in ten congenitally blind human participants, we found robust occipital activation during a verbal-memory task (in the absence of any sensory input), as well as during verb generation and Braille reading. We also found evidence for reorganization and specialization of the occipital cortex, along the anterior-posterior axis. Whereas anterior regions showed preference for Braille, posterior regions (including V1) showed preference for verbal-memory and verb generation (which both require memory of verbal material). No such occipital activation was found in sighted subjects. This difference between the groups was mirrored by superior performance of the blind in various verbal-memory tasks. Moreover, the magnitude of V1 activation during the verbal-memory condition was highly correlated with the blind individual's abilities in a variety of verbal-memory tests, suggesting that the additional occipital activation may have a functional role.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2004

Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the occipital pole interferes with verbal processing in blind subjects.

Recent neuroimaging studies in blind persons show that the occipital cortex, including the primary visual cortex (V1), is active during language-related and verbal-memory tasks. No studies, however, have identified a causal link between early visual cortex activity and successful performance on such tasks. We show here that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the occipital pole reduces accuracy on a verb-generation task in blind subjects, but not in sighted controls. An analysis of error types revealed that the most common error produced by rTMS was semantic; phonological errors and interference with motor execution or articulation were rare. Thus, in blind persons, a transient 'virtual lesion' of the left occipital cortex interferes with high-level verbal processing

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Impact of stereopsis on quality of life.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of stereopsis on vision-related quality of life and general health status of the elderly. METHODS: A quota of 200 subjects aged 65 years or older and had their households registered in Guando district was recruited for a general physical examination including ophthalmic evaluation. A structured questionnaire consisting of seven vision-specific items as well as 36-item short-form survey of the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36) was administered. Stereoscopic level was divided into three groups: no stereopsis, gross stereopsis, and fine stereopsis. Fisher's exact test was used to detect any difference in subjective visual functioning and Mann-Whitney U test was used for analyses of SF-36 scores. RESULTS: A total of 187 volunteers were recruited and 150 were analysed for stereoscopic levels. There was no significant difference in vision-specific difficulty among the three stereoscopic groups. For SF-36, having no stereopsis scored significantly less than having gross (P=0.005) and fine (P<0.0001) stereopsis in the vitality/energy dimension. General health perception dimension fared significantly lower in the group with no stereopsis compared to the fine stereoscopic group (P=0.01). In multivariate analysis, having fine stereopsis scored significantly higher in the energy/vitality dimension than having no stereopsis (P=0.02). On the other hand, visual impairment imposed significant adverse effect on five vision-specific items and had no significant relationship with the eight dimensions of SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Defective stereopsis in the elderly imposes no significant adverse effect on vision-related quality of life. However, subjects may feel more exhausted in accomplishing their usual tasks.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Audiological assessment, rehabilitation, and spatial hearing considerations associated with visual impairment in adults: an overview.

The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness and interest among audiologists regarding the needs of adults who have both hearing loss and visual impairment, particularly people who are blind and travel independently. Case history, audiometric testing, and rehabilitation issues are considered, and extensive discussion of spatial hearing research as it relates to orientation and mobility is provided.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Age-specific prevalence and causes of bilateral and unilateral visual impairment in older Australians: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To report age-specific prevalence and causes of bilateral and unilateral visual impairment in a representative older Australian population. METHODS: Participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study (n = 3654) underwent a detailed eye examination. Any visual impairment was defined as best-corrected visual acuity (VA) of 6/12 or worse, moderate impairment as VA 6/24-6/60 and severe impairment as VA worse than 6/60 (the Australian definition for legal blindness). Bilateral visual impairment was defined from the better eye and unilateral impairment from the worse eye. Proportional causes for visual loss were determined by the examining ophthalmologist. RESULTS: Prevalence of bilateral and unilateral visual impairment was strongly age related. Corresponding bilateral and unilateral visual impairment prevalence rates were, respectively, 0.6% and 3.6% for persons aged 49-59 years, 1.1% and 8.2% for ages 60-69, 5.4% and 20.1% for ages 70-79, and 26.3% and 52.2% for persons aged 80+ years. Overwhelmingly, age-related maculopathy (ARM) was the predominant cause of bilateral blindness (13/17) and of moderate to severe bilateral visual impairment in persons aged 70+ years. However, cataract was the most frequent cause of mild bilateral visual impairment among persons aged 60+ years. Amblyopia was the most frequent cause of mild or worse unilateral visual impairment in persons aged 49-59 years. Cataract was the most common cause of mild unilateral visual impairment in people aged 60+ years, while ARM and cataract were jointly the most frequent causes of moderate to severe unilateral visual impairment in people aged 70+ years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that around half of visually impaired persons aged 60 years or over had cataract, a cause amenable to treatment.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2002

Five-year outcome of correctable visual impairment: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

This report aims to describe the outcome and socio-economic characteristics of older persons attending the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) with persistent correct-able visual impairment (VI). The BMESI examined 3654 persons aged 49+ during 1992-1994 and re-examined 2335 survivors during 1997-1999 (BMES II). Visual acuity was measured before and after standardized refraction. Participants had correctable VI if their better eye was visually impaired <6/12 before refraction (with distance glasses if worn) and was unimpaired after refraction. In BMES I,274 persons (7.5%) had correctable VI, of whom 127 returned to BMES II. Of this group of 127, 34 had persistent correctable VI and 74 were no longer impaired. Fewer persons with correctable VI returned and more died prior to BMES II, compared to persons with no or non-correctable VI. This study showed that persistent correctable impairment was more frequent with increasing age, among women, in those living alone, using community support services,or with a history of heart disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Measurement of indirect costs for people with vision impairment.

From a societal perspective, chronic eye diseases can affect not only the person who has vision impairment but also the economics of that society. To obtain comprehensive medical and non-medical expenditures for people with impaired vision, direct and indirect costs should be collected. Indirect costs are usually not included in cost evaluation in health economics due to the difficulty of the data collection and analysis. Questionnaires and cost diaries have been developed in this study to estimate total resource use, expenses, and lost production from the participants or their caregivers due to the participants' vision loss. Pilot testing was conducted to verify the format, clarity of instructions, relevance of content and completeness of the questionnaires and diary. Modifications were then made to the format from feedback from the participants. Diaries using large print, audio and Braille facilitate data collection for people with impaired vision.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMed2003

Measurement of the economic impact of visual impairment from age-related macular degeneration in Australia.

The purpose of this report was to: (i) outline the potential value of health economic studies into age-related macular degeneration (AMD); (ii) provide an overview of health economic studies pertinent to AMD; and (iii) outline the basic frame work of cost-of-illness studies (a useful first step in applying economic methods). The detection and management of sensory loss in the elderly plays a key role in the Australian Government's Healthy Ageing Strategy. Age-related macular degeneration is currently the leading cause of blindness in elderly Australians. Although a large proportion of AMD cases remain untreatable, the introduction of photo-dynamic therapy provides a relatively expensive and possibly cost-effective innovation for others. Antioxidant therapy has also been proven effective in reducing progression of early to late disease. The discipline of economics can contribute to an understanding of AMD prevention and treatment through: (i) describing the current burden of disease; (ii) predicting the changes in the burden of disease over time, and (iii) evaluating the efficiency of different interventions. Cost-of-illness studies have been performed in many fields of medicine. Little work, however, has been done on describing the economic impact from AMD. A number of different economic evaluation methods can be used in judging the efficiency of possible interventions to reduce the disease burden of AMD. Although complementary in nature, each has specific uses and limitations. Studies of the economic impact of eye diseases are both feasible and necessary for informed health care decision-making.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence and clinical features of migraine in a population of visually impaired subjects in Curitiba, Brazil.

To investigate the relevance of lacking or diminished visual input on the expression of migraine, we evaluated its prevalence and clinical features in a population of visually impaired subjects. Between September 1999 and April 2000, 203 visually impaired subjects with a headache inventory were surveyed. Those with headache were assessed according to IHS criteria for the presence of migraine. Migraineurs had their symptoms further detailed through an interview and a headache diary. Of the 104 subjects reporting headaches during the last 6 months, 29 had migraine (14.2%). The prevalence of migraine was not influenced by whether the visual impairment was complete or partial. Mean frequency of migraine attacks was 2.7/month. Most subjects (96%) reported severe and/or moderate attacks. Nausea, vomiting, aggravation by activity and phonophobia were reported by 62%, 37.9%, 86.2% and 96.6% of the subjects, respectively. Visual impairment does not seem to influence prevalence of migraine or its clinical features.

Adult↗