Karen Harpster1,2, Nicole Weckherlin3, Jack R Engsberg3, Stephanie K Powell3,4, Holly Barnard5,6, Darren Kadis5, Jonathan N Dodd7, Marissa-Li Garrett5, Francesco T Mangano5, David D Limbrick3, Mekibib Altaye5, Weihong Yuan5,8. 1. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. Karen.harpster@cchmc.org. 2. University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. Karen.harpster@cchmc.org. 3. St. Louis Children's Hospital, One Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. 4. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. 5. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. 6. PLLC, 6435 Pemberton Dr, Dallas, TX, 75230-4126, USA. 7. WellStar Medical Group, 3939 Roswell Road, Suite 200, Marietta, GA, 30062, USA. 8. University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Develop and pilot an iPad-based intervention for improving visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus (HCP). METHODS: We developed an intervention protocol targeting visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention. Fourteen participants with HCP completed 30 h of training over 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Perceptual Reasoning Index from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition. Secondary measures included subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, Second Edition (NEPSY-II), and Purdue Pegboard. RESULTS: Children with HCP demonstrated gains with statistical significance on the Perceptual Reasoning Index. We also observed significant improvement on a timed test of visuo-motor coordination (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, Coding). CONCLUSION: Our iPad-application-based intervention may promote visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention skills in children with HCP, offering an engaging and economical supplement to more conventional therapies.
PURPOSE: Develop and pilot an iPad-based intervention for improving visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus (HCP). METHODS: We developed an intervention protocol targeting visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention. Fourteen participants with HCP completed 30 h of training over 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Perceptual Reasoning Index from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition. Secondary measures included subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment, Second Edition (NEPSY-II), and Purdue Pegboard. RESULTS: Children with HCP demonstrated gains with statistical significance on the Perceptual Reasoning Index. We also observed significant improvement on a timed test of visuo-motor coordination (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, Coding). CONCLUSION: Our iPad-application-based intervention may promote visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention skills in children with HCP, offering an engaging and economical supplement to more conventional therapies.