What is Visual hyposensitivity ?IN BRIEF
Visual hyposensitivity is when the brain takes longer or needs more detailed information to process visual stimuli. This can make it difficult to track moving objects, focus on them, perceive details accurately, or orient oneself. Autistic people more frequently experience hypersensitivities or hyposensitivities related to their senses, but anyone, even without a specific diagnosis, can also experience this condition.
Definition of visual hyposensitivity?
Visual hyposensitivity is a sensory condition related to vision, where there is little or no response to visual stimuli. The brain struggles to correctly interpret the information received from the visual channel. Another term for visual hyposensitivity is visual hypoesthesia. This can result in difficulties tracking moving objects, perceiving details in the environment, or orienting oneself in space.
Symptoms of visual hyposensitivity
- Attraction to shiny objects
- Attraction to bright lights
- Sensory-seeking, i.e. the person may seek to stimulate sight
- Problems with oculomanual coordination (the coordination between the eyes and hands), i.e. difficulty in grasping or manipulating objects
- Staring at moving objects
- Looking at objects very closely or out of the corner of one’s eye
- Difficulty copying words
- Unusual eye movements
- Empty gaze
- Motor problems
- Difficulty concentrating
Consequences of visual hyposensitivity
The consequences of visual hyposensitivity vary greatly from person to person, depending on age, skills, environment and the tools available.
- Difficulties with activities of daily life (feeding, bathing, dressing)
- Difficulty following visual instructions
- Difficulty learning new skills
- Difficulty socializing or communicating
What to do if visual hyposensitivity is a problem?
You have to be creative and proactive, identify specific challenges and find strategies to mitigate their effects.
- Adapting to the environment
- Adequate lighting
- Use of contrasting colors
- Clearer, simpler visual instructions
- Visually stimulating games, such as visual fidgets, games with lights, kaleidoscopes, visual sensory-seeking, spinning tops with optical effects...
It can also mean learning new skills that enable the brain to better cope with intrusive stimuli. These solutions are usually proposed and supervised by specialists such as occupational therapists.
- Hand-eye coordination exercises (ball games, coordination games)
- Visual stimulation activities (puzzles, mazes)
- Medical care
Sensory research
The brain may try to create sensations when it is not receiving enough input. Visual sensory seeking can include spinning an object in front of oneself, staring at lights, bringing an object or fingers very close to one’s face, or any other form of visual stimulation.
Important
In case of distress, or if the solutions put in place don't work, it's imperative to consult a specialist in sensory hypo-sensitivities.
Further information
Blogtoys.fr – La prise en charge des troubles visuels sensoriels (French)
