The effectiveness of multimedia visual perceptual training groups for the preschool children with developmental delay.
Multimedia group activities beat paper tasks for building visual skills in preschoolers with developmental delay.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Chen et al. (2013) tested three ways to teach visual skills to preschoolers with developmental delay. Kids were split into groups: one used computer games and videos, one worked one-on-one with a teacher, and one used paper worksheets.
All groups trained twice a week for six weeks. Afterward, the researchers checked which kids had stronger visual-perceptual skills.
What they found
The computer-game group made the biggest jump in skills. The one-on-one group improved less, and the worksheet group improved the least.
Every training group beat the control group that got no extra lessons.
How this fits with other research
Heffernan et al. (2016) also used an ABA approach to replace a body-focused habit—nail biting—by giving sensory toys that matched the same automatic reinforcement. Both studies show that matching the delivery format to the child's sensory preferences boosts outcomes.
Friedlander et al. (2019) looked at gene-risk and prenatal drug exposure in the same preschool age range. They found biology can stack the deck against social growth, while Yi-Nan et al. show targeted training can still move skills forward. The papers sit side-by-side: one warns about risk, the other offers a practical tool.
Fahmie et al. (2013) surveyed caregivers who tried ADHD meds for Williams syndrome and saw mixed results plus side effects. Yi-Nan offers a non-drug option that improved skills without mentioning adverse events, giving clinicians an alternative path.
Why it matters
If you run early-intervention groups, swap some table-top tasks for short, game-style lessons on tablets or smartboards. Keep the group size small, use colorful animations, and track each child's visual-perceptual targets weekly. You may see faster gains than with traditional worksheets alone.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study compared the effectiveness of three approaches to improving visual perception among preschool children 4-6 years old with developmental delays: multimedia visual perceptual group training, multimedia visual perceptual individual training, and paper visual perceptual group training. A control group received no special training. This study employed a pretest-posttest control group of true experimental design. A total of 64 children 4-6 years old with developmental delays were randomized into four groups: (1) multimedia visual perceptual group training (15 subjects); (2) multimedia visual perceptual individual training group (15 subjects); paper visual perceptual group training (19 subjects); and (4) a control group (15 subjects) with no visual perceptual training. Forty minute training sessions were conducted once a week for 14 weeks. The Test of Visual Perception Skills, third edition, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Paired-samples t-test showed significant differences pre- and post-test among the three groups, but no significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test scores among the control group. ANOVA results showed significant differences in improvement levels among the four study groups. Scheffe post hoc test results showed significant differences between: group 1 and group 2; group 1 and group 3; group 1 and the control group; and group 2 and the control group. No significant differences were reported between group 2 and group 3, and group 3 and the control group. The results showed all three therapeutic programs produced significant differences between pretest and posttest scores. The training effect on the multimedia visual perceptual group program and the individual program was greater than the developmental effect Both the multimedia visual perceptual group training program and the multimedia visual perceptual individual training program produced significant effects on visual perception. The multimedia visual perceptual group training program was more effective for improving visual perception than was multimedia visual perceptual individual training program. The multimedia visual perceptual group training program was more effective than was the paper visual perceptual group training program.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.09.023