Multisensory rehabilitation for people with ultra-low vision
Development of a Multi-sensory Rehabilitation Program for People with Ultra Low Vision
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · STATE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY · NIH-11142506
This project will see if combining sound, touch, and remaining vision helps people with ultra-low vision carry out everyday tasks more easily.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STATE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11142506 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have ultra-low vision, researchers will work with you to try training that mixes auditory and tactile cues with whatever sight remains. They will use virtual reality and lab-based tasks to measure how well different activities can be done at varying levels of vision. The team will run a small pilot program of the multisensory training and then refine and test a full rehabilitation program. The goal is to create a practical program that clinicians could use to help people with severe vision loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with ultra-low vision—severe vision loss that still allows some functional sight but not enough to see detailed shapes or large letters at typical reading distance.
Not a fit: People with normal or only mild vision loss, or those with no light perception and no usable visual input, are unlikely to benefit from this specific multisensory rehabilitation approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help people with ultra-low vision perform daily activities more independently by using sound and touch together with residual sight.
How similar studies have performed: Previous sensory substitution and low-vision training approaches have shown promise, but combining auditory and tactile cues with remaining vision in virtual-reality–based rehabilitation is relatively new and still being piloted.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- STATE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KARTHA, ARATHY GANGA — STATE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
- Study coordinator: KARTHA, ARATHY GANGA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.