Naomi’s presentation spotlighted a crucial, overlooked area in pediatric neuro-rehabilitation: “Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Evaluating Gaze Responses to Unimodal and Bimodal Stimuli.”
The Clinical Challenge: Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) affects 60% to 70% of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). While their functional vision is profoundly compromised, unlocking and measuring their residual visual abilities is vital for enhancing their communication, learning, and quality of life.
The Breakthrough: “Sensory Enhancement.” Using millisecond-by-millisecond computerized microanalysis of gaze responses, the study revealed that although children with CVI exhibit slower visual processing, pairing visual targets with auditory or tactile cues (bimodal stimulation) significantly increases their visual engagement.
Moving From Lab to Life: By quantifying gaze, this study provides an empirical baseline to design better therapeutic and educational environments. The core message shared at Oxford is the power of interdisciplinary collaboration—bringing together ophthalmologists and occupational therapists to unlock these children’s visual potential.
Congratulations to Naomi and the team on showcasing Ono’s dedication to global research excellence on one of the world’s most distinguished scientific stages.