Article
Autism and CVI explained
Autism is a common diagnosis alongside CVI. Start here to explore our CVI and autism series and learn more about this dual diagnosis.
Co-occuring Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) and CVI (Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment) is common—but, too often, an autism diagnosis could mask CVI. Why?
Here’s the issue: While autism is more well-known and researched, CVI is widely underdiagnosed, and both conditions share behaviors.
Statistics about CVI and autism
Autism affects 1 in 36 kids in the United States. Meanwhile, new research has found that CVI may affect up to 1 in 30 kids.
But less than 20% of kids with CVI have been properly identified, and the link between autism and CVI is poorly understood. Recent data shows that 23% of kids with CVI also have an autism diagnosis.
It’s important to remember that kids can have both, and they’re tightly connected. Atypical visual processing in early life could be the underlying cause of social communication problems that resemble autism.
Both conditions need to be evaluated so kids can receive the proper support and accommodations.
Understanding CVI
- CVI is a brain-based visual impairment caused by damage to your child’s visual cortex or visual pathways. CVI is characterized by functional vision problems that can’t be explained by a structural problem with your child’s eyes. Instead, their brain’s visual centers have trouble processing and interpreting visual information.
- CVI impacts your child’s ability to visually attend, recognize, understand, and identify objects.
- Someone with CVI might have perfectly healthy eyes and still be functionally blind or have low vision.
Understanding autism
- Autism refers to a broad range of developmental conditions.
- It affects how people think, communicate, and interact with the world.
- It’s characterized by repetitive behaviors and speech, and challenges with social skills and nonverbal communication.
- Children with a higher likelihood of autism have a family member with autism, have older parents, have certain genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, or were born underweight.
Why providers need to look for CVI and autism
Vision guides movement from birth, and it shapes our brain: It teaches us about our environment and provides incidental learning opportunities. Vision is essential to development.
When kids have trouble with vision—such as with CVI—they might display difficulties in cognitive, motor, and social behavior as a result.
At the same time, kids with cognitive and social developmental disorders can also display visual and perceptual deficits resembling CVI. Researchers are currently studying whether and how some autistic signs could actually be attributable to visual disorders, such as CVI.
Unfortunately, autism can often mask CVI. This is because visual processing is tough to evaluate in the context of autism, due to overlapping behaviors. But addressing underlying CVI can help guide support in autism, too.
- Expert advice on a dual autism-CVI diagnosis
- Can CVI and autism co-occur? An in-depth analysis from a school psychologist and occupational therapist at Perkins
- Can CVI and autism co-occur? Part 2 is coming soon!
Autism is so much more than what people see outside. You’re seeing the outside surface layer, but there’s this whole internal world that’s happening for the person.
-Nai, an adult with CVI and autism
CVI and autism, from individuals and their families
- Nai’s CVI Perspective
- How My Son’s CVI Diagnosis Broke, Then Rebuilt, My Heart
- Helping Youth With Autism and Co-Occurring Low Vision and Blindness
- Eyeing the Connection Between Autism and Vision
Resources and next steps
- Learn more about how CVI is diagnosed and educational assessments for students with CVI.
- Dive into our in-depth CVI behaviors resource. Find short videos, clear explanations for each, questions for observation, example accommodations, and current research.
- Find ideas for adapting the classroom environment and worksheets.
