Category Archives: Visual Perception

Visual Perception encompasses the brain’s ability to interpret and make sense of visual information received from the eyes. Visual Perception covers topics related to visual processing skills, assessment techniques, therapy strategies, and practical applications to support individuals with visual perceptual challenges, especially in educational and therapeutic settings.

Visual Processing & Perception Assessments: Seminar Highlights

March 13, 2015Assessments, Therapist Resources, Visual Perceptionassessments, occupational therapy (OT) tools, saturday seminar recaps, visual motorTherapro

Selecting the best assessment in order to gain the information we seek about a client’s functioning is vital for the occupational therapist, the client, and the team. It’s a jumping off point that helps us design a treatment plan that is meaningful and helps the client achieve goals. On Saturday, February 28th, Therapro’s President, Karen Conrad Weihrauch, PhD, OTR/L, tackled the task of examining 14 standardized visual motor and visual perception assessments as part of the Saturday Seminar Series.

Having the opportunity hear a comparison of the assessments, discuss them, and provide personal experience with the administration of the assessments helped therapists and educators identify tests that they might like to use in their work settings. In addition, being able to actually examine and manipulate the tools was a valuable experience not typically available to us.

Karen provided a succinct description of each test, including ages for which the test was designed, time required to administer, and interpretation information. Included were new editions of old standards such as the Beery VMI, DTVP-3, and DTVP-A. She presented tests that include useful or unique features. For example, the Spatial Awareness Skills Program (SASP) includes a curriculum manual, the Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities (WRAVMA) is the only test available that includes a pegboard for testing dexterity, and the Preschool Visual Motor Integration Assessment (PVMIA) includes two Behavioral Observation Checklists in addition to the two subtests. The PVMIA is unique because its authors are OTs.

The Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities (WRAVMA) Visual Processing Assessments — Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities (WRAVMA)

The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, 6th Edition (BEERY VMI) Visual Processing Assessments — Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities (WRAVMA)

Attendees shared their comments regarding this valuable seminar:

“A great review of all available v.p. tests that should be shown to all school system OTs so that they can choose what they want to use.” Beth H.

“As an outpt therapist, I have very limited access to updated assessments. This seminar was very helpful with regard to: easy, wide-range tests that I could use for children and adults in a non-academic setting.” Joanne T.

“Good overview of potential VP/VM tests including quite a few I had never heard of.” Lynne H.

Thank you, Karen!

Filomena Connor, MS, OTR/L

February 28, 2015

Visual and Motor Cohesion: The Beery VMI

June 19, 2014Assessments, Visual Perceptiontherapist resources, visual motorTherapro

The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test (more commonly known as the Beery VMI) detects difficulties in connecting visual perception and motor skills. The test is a Visual-Motor Integration Test (VMI) for ages two and up. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, and has two supplemental tests that last five minutes each, as needed. Beery VMI

This VMI test examines how well an individual integrates visual and motor skills by having them look at 24 drawings. (There is a short form of this test that is often used with two to eight-year-olds, which only tests 15 drawings.) The drawings present simple geometric shapes from the most simple to the most complex. The examinee looks at the shape, then copies each drawing into the Test Booklet.

If the full or short form tests indicate a need for further testing, then the two supplemental tests are administered. These two supplemental tests are the VMI Visual Perception Test and the VMI Motor Coordination Test. They follow the same form as the main test, which ensures that the results are easy to compare.

The starter kit for the Beery VMI includes a manual, 10 full form tests, 10 short form tests, 10 Visual Perception supplemental forms, and 10 Motor Coordination supplemental forms.

Various teaching materials aid this test. These tools help improve visual, motor, and visual-motor function for children pre-elementary school. The booklet of Developmental Teaching Activities headlines the teaching materials. This booklet includes over 250 activities to help a child establish an understanding of art, pre-reading and pre-writing, and athletic skills. Each level has activities directed towards gross motor, fine motor, visual perception, and visual-motor development.

Next in the line of teaching activities is called My Book of Shapes. From the title, you can get a sense of its contents. This book contains 100 geometric exercises that children in preschool and kindergarten can use to improve their motor, visual, and motor-visual function. These activities give children a jump-start for recognizing letter and numeral shapes that the child will experience in school.

The Beery VMI Stepping Stones Parent Checklist provides an easily accessible list of key developmental “stepping stones.” This list helps parents to track a child’s development from pre-kindergarten through early elementary. While many schools provide developmental feedback, this home checklist helps you observe your child’s development outside of a school setting.

For parents and professionals, the Developmental Wall Chart for Visual-Motor Integration is a colorful chart of gross motor, fine motor, and visual-motor stepping stones. This chart marks development from birth to age six. Many parents and professionals find it useful to have this clear chart on hand for easy reference.

The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test is currently in its 6th edition. This edition was standardized based on a national sample of 1,737 children aged 2 to 18, and the adult norms derive from a sample of 1,021 individuals aged 18 to 100. The Manual for this test includes about 600 norms from birth through age 6 to track and understand visual and motor development.

The Beery VMI Test finds any weaknesses in a child’s development, but also effectively assesses adults of all ages. The Teaching Materials improve any underdeveloped areas, both proactively and reactively, to provide successful integration of visual perception and motor skills.

Solving Visual Tracking Problems

September 27, 2012Assistive Technology, Handwriting, Visual Perceptionclassroom strategies, occupational therapy (OT) tools, parent resources, product guides, product spotlight, therapist resourcesTherapro

Did you know that up to 50% of children in classrooms experience visual challenges—most commonly with eye tracking? These difficulties can significantly impact reading and writing, especially as children begin to learn handwriting.

To address this issue, therapists began highlighting the bottom line of traditional lined paper to show children where their letters should go. Recognizing the need for a more effective and consistent solution, Therapro created Highlighter Paper—a simple yet powerful tool designed to support children with visual tracking and handwriting challenges.

What Makes Highlighter Paper Unique?

Highlighter paper- a resource for solving visual tracking problems

Highlighter Paper features a visually distinct bottom line to help guide letter placement. To support correct letter formation and left-to-right orientation, the paper is indented at the starting point and includes a star icon to clearly indicate where to begin writing.

The paper comes in various formats and line widths to support children at different stages of handwriting development. Some styles also include space to draw a picture, with lines below for writing a description—ideal for creative storytelling or early literacy activities.

Choosing the Right Paper

Highlighter Paper is available in yellow or blue backgrounds and comes in four formats, each designed to support a specific stage of handwriting development:

Kindergarten Story Paper: Landscape format with a blank space for drawing and two lines for writing
Kindergarten Writing Paper: Landscape format with five writing lines
WideLine Writing Paper: Landscape format with seven writing lines
NarrowLines Writing Paper: Portrait format with 13 lines for more advanced writers

Not sure which to choose?

For early writers, especially in the first half of first grade, we recommend starting with wider lines. As handwriting skills progress—typically by the second half of first grade—children gain more motor control and can transition to narrower lined paper.

Additional Support: Reading Guide Strips

Therapro also offers Reading Guide Strips—simple tools with a transparent, tinted window to help children visually track lines of text while reading. These can be a helpful addition for children with visual tracking difficulties, especially during early literacy instruction.