In one sentence
Researchers developed ViPro-SR, an 11-item self-report questionnaire that reliably measures three visual-processing patterns — contrast hypersensitivity, detail focus, and peripheral vision activation — in autistic and ADHD adults.
What the researchers did
1,310 adults aged 18–75 completed an online survey, including autistic people, people with ADHD, and a comparison group without these diagnoses. An initial 18 items were shaped with input from autistic adults, parents, and experts, then refined with statistical methods to 11 items in three factors. The team checked reliability (consistency) and validity (whether the tool measures what it claims and separates groups as expected).
What they found
- Final ViPro-SR has three subscales: hypersensitivity to contrast (for example discomfort with bright light), detail focus (noticing small details others miss), and peripheral vision activation (distraction by movement at the edge of vision).
- Internal consistency was good (total-scale omega about 0.85; each subscale above 0.70).
- Scores correlated with existing sensory measures and were higher in autistic and ADHD groups than in the comparison group.
- Subscale scores were more informative than a single total score.
What this means for families and therapists
- Therapists can use the tool as a short screen to pinpoint visual overload patterns and plan environment changes (glare, lighting, busy visual fields).
- Families supporting an autistic or ADHD adult can use clearer language about triggers when talking with clinicians about accommodations.
- The authors present it for research and clinical screening — not as a stand-alone diagnostic test. Check current access and permissions before clinical use.
Limitations and what we don't know yet
- The sample was mostly women (about 70%) and highly educated.
- Self-report can be shaped by memory and mood.
- Developed and tested online; in-person use may differ.
- Stability over time (test–retest) was not assessed.
This is a plain-language summary of Development and psychometric validation of a novel, self-report visual processing questionnaire (ViPro-SR) for neurodivergent adults by Rattray F., Uglik-Marucha N., Nonweiler J. et al., Current Psychology (2026). Source license: CC-BY-4.0. It is not medical advice — talk to a qualified clinician before changing therapy.