Considerations when assessing urban South African children with the Developmental Test of Visual Perception 2nd edition (DTVP-2).

Introduction: The Developmental Test of Visual Perception second Edition (DTVP-2) is frequently used by South African (SA) occupational therapists, despite the suitability of its US-based norms for SA children being questioned, and the 2014 release of the updated DTVP-3. This study investigated the suitability of the DTVP-2 norms for SA English-speaking children aged 5y 6mo-5y 11mo. SA sample scores were compared to American norms. Motor-reduced subtest scores were compared with and without the stop rule. Gender differences were tested. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive study used 134 English speaking children. Motor-enhanced subtests were administered as prescribed, but motor-reduced subtests were administered without the prescribed stop rule, allowing prescribed and adapted scores to be computed. Results: Scores of SA children varied from American norms, especially in visual closure, visual-motor speed and form constancy. Better visual closure scores were obtained when the stop rule was excluded. Boys and girls differed only on figure-ground, where girls scored higher. Conclusion: The DTVP-2 is valuable, but caution is recommended when measuring visual perceptual skills for this age band. Alternative instruments should be used, or local norms, or even more contextually relevant instruments, must be developed locally. At least, occupational therapists should apply US norms with care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]