This study assessed the effect of visual search training on the avoidance of obstacles by adults with visual impairments. A significant reduction in contacts with obstacles under mesopic conditions was found in individuals who received search training. This finding suggests that search training had a positive effect on mobility performance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AnandamB. T., & ScialfaC. T. (1999). Aging and the development of automaticity in feature search. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 6, 117–140.
2.
DoddsA. G., & DavisD. P. (1987). Low vision: Assessment and training for mobility. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 10, 327–330.
3.
EllisonA., & WalshV. (1998). Perceptual learning in visual search: Some evidence of specificities. Vision Research, 38, 333–345.
4.
FuhrP. S., LiuL., & KuykT. K. (2007). Relationships between feature search and mobility performance in persons with severe visual impairment. Optometry and Vision Science, 84, 393–400.
5.
JaffeD. L. (2004). Stepping over obstacles to improve walking in individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 41, 283–292.
6.
KatzN., RingH., NavehY., KizonyR., FeintuchU., & WeissP. L. (2004). Interactive virtual environment training for safe street crossing of right-hemisphere stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect. Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technology. Oxford, England.
7.
KuykT., ElliottJ. L., & FuhrP. S. (1998a). Visual correlates of mobility in real world settings in older adults with low vision. Optometry and Vision Science, 75, 538–547.
8.
KuykT., ElliottJ. L., & FuhrP. S. (1998b). Visual correlates of obstacle avoidance in adults with low vision. Optometry and Vision Science, 75, 174–182.
9.
KuykT. K., LiuL., & FuhrP. S. (2005). Feature search in persons with severe visual impairment. Vision Research, 45(25-26), 3224–3234.
10.
LiuL., KuykT., & FuhrP. (2007). Visual search training in subjects with severe to profound low vision. Vision Research, 47, 2627–2636.
11.
PambakianA. L., MannanS. K., HodgsonT. L., & KennardC. (2004). Saccadic visual search training: A treatment for patients with homonymous hemianopia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 75, 1443–1448.
12.
PelliD. G., RobsonJ. G., & WilkensA. J. (1988). The design of a new letter chart for measuring contrast sensitivity. Clinical Vision Sciences, 2, 187–199.
13.
PfeifferE. (1975). A short portable mental status questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficit in elderly patients. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 23, 433–441.
14.
SireteanuR., & RettenbachR. (1995). Perceptual learning in visual search: Fast, enduring, but non-specific. Vision Research, 35, 2037–2043.
15.
WebsterJ., Szeto-WongC., McFarlandP., & AbadeeP. (2000). Computer-assisted training for unilateral neglect. Paper presented at the Second National Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Conference, Washington, DC.
