Vision Evaluation Tools for Adults With Acquired Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.

Background. Unrecognized visual deficits (VDs) following an acquired brain injury (ABI) may impact clients' rehabilitation. Little is known about evaluation tools used in vision rehabilitation. Purpose. To systematically explore the literature describing evaluation tools used for VD on adults with ABI. Method. Using a scoping review methodology, we searched in MEDLINE(Ovid), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the grey literature from inception to 2020. Quantitative and thematic analyses were performed. Findings. Of the 83 studies reporting on 86 evaluation tools, 47% used multiple tools to assess VD. Tools were mostly used by occupational therapists and psychologists to evaluate intermediate, intermediate to high, and high-level visual skills. Clinicians tend to select specific tools that focus on different levels of the hierarchy of visual skills. Implications. Future research should investigate the optimal timeframe for assessment of VD and the psychometric properties of tools to ensure comprehensive VD evaluation.

Interventions Addressing Vision, Visual-perceptual Impairments Following Acquired Brain Injury: A Cross-sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND.: The existing literature on the effectiveness of interventions targeting vision, visual-perceptual impairments following acquired brain injury (ABI) is scarce and unlinked to occupational performance. PURPOSE.: To explore current occupational therapy practice in vision-rehabilitation among adults with ABI in Canada, and to determine the evidence-practice gaps. METHODS.: An online survey was made available through the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) website, and disseminated to seven public healthcare institutions in Quebec. The survey collected respondent demographic information, and the types and frequency of treatments delivered. Descriptive statistics were conducted to determine interventions' frequency. Participant comments were collected and grouped into recurring themes. FINDINGS.: Over half (55%) of respondents regularly use evidence-based interventions when addressing visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) deficits, but only very few (3%) use it when dealing with oculomotor function and visual stress impairments. IMPLICATIONS.: Results gave a glimpse of interventions used and suggested the need for further research in vision rehabilitation.