Visual perception of five-year-old English-speaking children in Bloemfontein using the Beery VMI-6, DTVP-3 and the TVPS-3

Abstract

Background and aim: The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration 6th edition (Beery VMI-6), Development Test of Visual Perception 3rd edition (DTVP-3) and Test of Visual Perceptual Skills 3rd edition (TVPS-3) are the latest editions of three commonly used visual perception tests, not yet widely studied in South Africa. Research on previous editions of these tests on South African children has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the new versions of the tests that have more recently become available in South Africa.

Methods: This article reports on a quantitative, cross-sectional investigation into the visual perception and visual-motor performance of five-year-old English-speaking children, by using the three tests mentioned above. Sixty-eight (68) children were selected from English

Language of Learning and Teaching (ELOLT) Bloemfontein schools. Children completed the tests according to the prescribed procedures, in a specific order and with adequate breaks between tests.

Results: The findings showed that the children's performance on the Beery VMI-6 and DTVP-3 compared well to the American normative sample. However, all the children in this study scored below average in all the subtests, with the exception of the test of visual memory, and all of the composite TVPS-3 scores.

Conclusions: The TVPS-3 should be used with caution and preferably not as the only visual perception measuring instrument.

Occupational therapists in South Africa should consider the suitability of the tests and develop instruments specifically appropriate for the South African context.

 Key words: visual perceptual tests; visual-motor performance; five-year-old children; Beery VMI-6; DTVP-3; TVPS-3