Early Information Processing among Infants with and without

This study focuses on the development of early visual information processing among infants with Spina Bifida (SB) compared to typically developing infants using the habituation-dishabituation paradigm. Analyses were conducted in two stages. First infants were evaluated to determine if 18 month old infants (SB = 47; Control =40) differed in their ability to shift attention and habituate to two female faces, as well as their responses to composite and novel stimuli. Second, relations between these variables and infant motor and mental functioning were evaluated. The results of the study indicated that difficulties with visual attention skills can be detected as early as 18 months-of-age among infants with SB. Infants with SB differed significantly from controls on attention getting. Although there were no differences found on habituation and composite tasks, infants with SB differed significantly from controls on their ability to dishabituate. Implications are discussed. Keywords spina bifida; infants; disability; habituation; attention orienting; attention processing Spina Bifida Meningomyelocele (SBM) is a disabling congenital birth defect affecting 0.3 to 0.5 per 1,000 births in the United States (Williams, Rasmussen, Flores, Kirby, & Edmunds, 2005). It is characterized by an open spinal defect that leads to variable difficulties with ambulation and bladder/bowel control depending on the severity and location of the lesion. SBM is accompanied by congenital brain malformations involving posterior cortex, corpu