Visual processing speed

Older adults commonly report difficulties in visual tasks of everyday living that involve visual clutter, secondary task demands, and time sensitive responses. These difficulties often cannot be attributed to visual sensory impairment. Techniques for measuring visual processing speed under divided attention conditions and among visual distractors have been developed and have established construct validity in that those older adults performing poorly in these tests are more likely to exhibit daily visual task performance problems. Research suggests that computer-based training exercises can increase visual processing speed in older adults and that these gains transfer to enhancement of health and functioning and a slowing in functional and health decline as people grow older.

► Elderly cite difficulty in tasks involving visual clutter and secondary tasks demands. ► These difficulties often cannot be attributed to visual sensory impairment. ► Techniques exist for measuring visual processing speed under these conditions. ► Those who perform poorly in tests are more likely to exhibit daily task problems.