Repeatability of the VMI Supplemental Developmental Test of Visual Perception

Visual perceptual ability has been found to be related to academic achievement. Therefore, the screening of perceptual skills in children should provide valuable information. However, the time required to administer and/or score many visual perceptual tests makes them difficult to use as a screening test. The VMI Supplemental Developmental Test of Visual Perception (VP) test 1) has been shown to be related to academic performance, 2) has an objective scoring system and 3) can be administered and scored quickly and easily. Therefore, the VP test may have the potential to be used as a stand-alone screening test of motor-reduced visual perception. However, its repeatability as a stand-alone screening test has not been evaluated. Method: The Ohio State University institutional review board approved the study protocol, advertisements, and informed consent forms. Informed consent was obtained prior to administering any testing. A Modified Clinical Technique vision screening was administered on a different day prior to the perceptual testing. The VP test was administered to second, fourth and sixth grade children (n=171, mean age=10.08 years) from a middle class, primarily white, elementary school near Columbus, Ohio. Children (n=136, mean age=10.10 years) were then retested within one month. Repeatability analysis included McNemar analyses, repeated measures, and plotting the difference versus the mean of the scores obtained at the initial test and retest. Results: The mean +/- standard deviation VP standard score was +115.5 +/- 14.5. For McNemar analyses, failure was defined as a score below one standard deviation below the mean. Analyses using both sample means and published norms revealed that children were referred similarly on test and retest. The mean difference between test and retest scores was similar to zero. The 95% limits of agreement were found to be –3.74 to 3.99. Conclusion: No consistent learning effect appeared to be present upon retest. Supported by COVD, T35-EY07151, OLERF, and EF Wildermuth Fdn grants to MTK and MJE.