Assessment of Navigation Abilities in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Their Peers

Evaluation of Spatial Navigation Skills in Typically Developing Children and in Children With Cerebral Palsy Using a Head Mounted Display

Spatial navigation skills are very important in everyday activities and quality of life but spatial navigation abilities are not part of the standard process of assessment and rehabilitation of patients. Furthermore, it is known that children with cerebral palsy have impaired visuo-spatial competences. The main objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the spatial navigation abilities of typically developing children and of children with cerebral palsy using the "StarMaze" application delivered by means of a Head Mounted Display (HMD). The second aim is to investigate the user experience during the session. A similar application was already developed and tested in a virtual reality large scale platform whose size and cost limit the accessibility. Therefore, the assessment (and future training) of navigation abilities with affordable and easy-to-use technology such as HMD open new perspectives.

Inclusion Criteria:

• IQ higher than 70

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with epileptic issues
• Subjects with poor head control
• Visual acuity not correctable with eyeglasses