Little Bear Sees

Helping children with cortical visual impairment (CVI) learn to see

  • Home
  • CVI Updates
  • About CVI
    • What is CVI?
    • A Closer Look at CVI
    • What to Do
    • FAQ
    • Resources
  • iPad Apps
    • Tap-n-See Now
    • My Talking Picture Board
  • Book

Is Black and White Best for Kids with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)?

July 16, 2014 by aubri 2 Comments

Black & White for CVI?In a recent contest we held on Facebook, we asked our fans to answer the following question: What do children with cortical visual impairment see best?

Here are the results:

Contest Pie Chart

 

20% of our participants answered that black and white images are best. In fact, we very often come across the notion that using black and white books, toys and pictures is best for kids with cortical visual impairment (CVI). This is NOT true! It is a very common and troubling misconception as many parents are told by well-meaning doctors and therapists to use a lot of black and white with their children with CVI.

While some children with CVI may respond to black and white over time, it will always be MUCH easier for them to see color. Color, especially highly saturated color, is incredibly important for children with CVI because color vision is usually preserved. The parts of the brain that are used to look at color are located deep in the brain on both sides, making those areas harder to damage. Red and yellow are very often the first colors that a child with CVI will see, though we know many children who prefer bright orange, green, blue or other highly saturated colors. Remember that the goal in CVI interventions is to provide the child with many opportunities to use the vision that she has. Unlike physical therapy, for example, the idea is not to challenge the child beyond her current abilities, but to give her frequent chances to use her vision, which will then allow it to grow and expand on its own. For many children with CVI, black and white is simply too difficult.

Even though 21% of participants got the answer wrong, we are THRILLED that 79% got it right! Help us keep educating and spreading the word!

Filed Under: CVI BLOG Tagged With: black and white, color, Cortical Visual Impairment, cvi, misconceptions, red, Vision, yellow

CVI App for iPad

Check out our iPad app specifically designed for children with CVI! Tap-n-See Now, only $2.99.

Comments

  1. Mollie Taylor says

    May 4, 2021 at 4:16 am

    Ji , i have a Samsung Table , ive been trying to download your app for a child i work with but have been unsuccessdul . Can you help me with this . Your app is so ething i really want to try .
    Thanks Mollie Taylor

    Reply
    • Andrei says

      August 23, 2021 at 8:51 am

      Mollie, please send this question using our contact form. Then we can better help you sort this out.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CVI Newsletter

Sign up below to receive our Little Bear Sees newsletter, informing you of CVI news, tips and ideas.

CVI App for iPad

Check out our iPad app specifically designed for children with CVI!


Tap-n-See Now, only $2.99.

Free lite version also available here.

Recent Tips, Ideas & News

  • App and group news from Little Bear Sees!
  • Little Bear Turns Ten!
  • DIY Display Wedge

More Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Our Book About CVI

Children with cortical visual impairment (CVI) can learn to see, their vision can get better! As parents of a … Read more...

Connect

Click the icons below to follow us on Facebook, subscribe to our RSS feed, or contact us directly.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Copyright © 2023 Little Bear Sees | Site Design by 3200 Creative