Brief report: preliminary evidence of reduced sensitivity in the peripheral visual field of adolescents with autistic spectrum disorder.

Bolte et al. (2013) sat 13 teens with autism and 13 matched peers in front of a dark screen. Small white dots flashed for 150 ms at 30°, 50°, and 70° out from center.

Kids pressed a button when they saw a flash. The team counted misses in four directions: up, down, toward the nose, and toward the ear.

The ASD group missed about twice as many flashes, especially on the nasal side (toward the nose).

Loss was worst at 50° and 70°. Central vision stayed the same for both groups.

Alonso Soriano et al. (2015) looked at the same age group but used center-screen puzzles. They found zero difference between ASD and controls, showing the peripheral loss can live alongside normal central vision.

Shirama et al. (2016) tested adults with ASD and saw shaky eye fixation when no target was present. This extends the teen data: early peripheral gaps may grow into unstable gaze.

Laycock et al. (2014) saw poorer fast-object spotting in adults with high autistic traits. The pattern matches: weaker transient vision across the spectrum.

You may place materials in the teen’s weaker nasal field and never get a response. Seat the learner so key visuals enter the temporal (ear) side. Cut clutter on the left for right-eye tasks and on the right for left-eye tasks. Flash cards, timers, or peers moving in the periphery could be missed—bring them closer or slow the pace.