Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-4 (MVPT-4)
The MVPT-4 (Motor Free Visual Perception Test, 4th edition), is a standardized assessment to measure visual perception skills, separate from motor ability to assess if a client’s vision perception skills are within a functional age range for the client’s occupational roles.
This assessment can be used across a wide range of ages to determine service eligibility, help clinicians plan appropriate interventions, and identify specific skills that may interfere with a client’s occupational performance.
Occupational therapists may use this assessment in pediatrics, low-vision settings, assistive technology settings, and pre-driving programs to measure the quality of a client’s visual perception for daily functional skills.
What does the MVPT-4 assess?
The MVPT-4, is in its fourth edition, published in 2015. This test is designed for ages four years to 80 years of age and requires approximately 20-25 minutes to administer. Results offer a reliable measure of an individual’s overall visual perceptual skills. This assessment can serve as an outcome measure, aid in treatment planning, and recertify individuals to return to driving after a head injury or stroke. Occupational therapists and other disciplines, such as Psychology, Educational Specialists, and Optometrists, may also use this assessment to evaluate an individual’s visual perceptual ability and how they interpret visual stimuli.
Skills assessed with the MVPT-4
- Visual discrimination: Discriminating dominant features of different objects.
- Spatial relationships: Perception of object position in relation to oneself and to other objects, including item reversals and rotations.
- Visual memory: Recognition of previously presented stimuli after a brief interval.
- Figure ground: Distinguishing an object from the background or surrounding objects.
- Visual closure: Perception of a whole figure when only fragments are presented.
The MVPT-4 can identify a client’s difficulties in understanding visual stimuli and assist clients with deficits in attaining assistive services. Clinicians may also use this assessment as a research tool or to measure the effectiveness of educational or intervention programs since this assessment is considered a reliable outcome measure for visual perceptual abilities. In its current edition, this test is a paper and pen type test, with spiral-bound test plates to present stimuli and a paper record form.
Administering the MVPT-4
Test items in the MVPT-4 are presented as black-and-white drawings in one book with an easel back, allowing the clinician to flip pages to rest along the easel as the client progresses through the test. Clients respond to the test items by pointing or saying their responses from a multiple-choice selection, which may be appropriate for those with limited motor abilities.
Cueing for each test item is included on each page, assisting the clinician to remain compliant with standardization and reading directions for the test items. A quiet environment is ideal for this assessment, with the clinician reading instructions to the client during administration.
Clinicians can keep clients engaged by allowing time to discuss expectations of the test, how long the test will take, and if the client has any concerns before administering the test. This test progresses quickly, with direction prompts on the test plate for clinicians to ensure the test flows smoothly through each section.
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How do you interpret MVPT?
Scoring does not require basal or ceiling scores. Instead, total raw scores for the test are converted into one standard score and a percentile rank for the client’s visual perceptual abilities. Only one score is generated for the entire test, leaving it up to the clinician to identify specific areas of strengths and weaknesses through structured observations and performance on individual sections of the MVPT-4. Higher scores signify fewer difficulties with visual perceptual function.
The MVPT-4 provides clinicians with one total score of overall visual perceptual ability with information from observations on how the client interacted with each section of the test to provide more information on specific client factors that would benefit from skilled occupational therapy intervention to support successful engagement in occupation.
Information gathered from this test may also aid in treatment planning, goal creation with the client, and selecting appropriate interventions targeting deficits to support activity engagement. The MVPT-4 can monitor progress over time, but clinicians should practice caution when reviewing results to ensure the client doesn't memorize correct answers to create a false score.
Collaborating with caregivers and other professionals
Strategies for effective collaboration with other professionals include clear documentation explaining what skills and activities occupational therapy will address. Reach out to your team members to discuss progress, barriers the client may face, or if you have concerns about the rate of progress.
Effective communication with fellow team members can increase outcome success and promote quality coordinated care for your client. Involving caregivers in the assessment process helps establish a client-centered approach by prioritizing client and caregiver perspectives. Interpretative reports should respect health literacy and ensure clients and families understand what the test measured and how the results influence their treatment plan.
MVT-4 results can be shared with other disciplines, including education professionals, and members in the health care team to communicate assessment findings.
Conclusion
Overall, this test is quick to administer, easy to score, and provides an in-depth look at a client’s visual perceptual abilities. Instructions are provided on test plates to assist examiners in maintaining a standardized administration.
This test is a great tool to have due to the convenience of using this assessment on a wide age range and with clients experiencing motor deficits. Results aid the clinician in gathering data and observations specific to each visual perceptual skill and how skills impact engagement in daily occupations, allowing the clinician to select appropriate and efficient interventions to support successful participation in a daily routine.
Resources
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More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
- Therapy private practice courses
- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
