Overview of CVI: From Identification to Education

In this recorded IFCR Conference session, Christine Roman-Lantzy, PhD, of Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, provides an overview of Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and its potential impact on children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). The presentation explores how CVI may affect a child’s ability to access and interpret visual information—even when an eye exam is normal or nearly normal. Learn about signs and characteristics of CVI, including visual latency, preferences for color and movement, sensitivity to visual complexity, difficulty with distance viewing and facial recognition, visual-field differences, and visual-motor challenges. The session also discusses why unmet visual needs may sometimes be mistaken for behavioral, attention, anxiety, or communication concerns. Dr. Roman-Lantzy highlights the importance of individualized CVI assessment and educational supports, including reduced visual complexity, thoughtful use of color, lighting, movement, and carefully adapted learning materials and AAC systems. Families and professionals will gain practical insight into helping children with CVI more effectively access their environments, learning opportunities, and communication. Conference recordings are provided for educational purposes and do not replace individualized medical advice from your healthcare team.