Perceptual Development (Cognitive)

Sensory abilities at birth

Infants are born with a set of sensory abilities that allow them to interact and learn from their environment.
Newborns have a preference for faces, particularly those of their caregivers. They’re also able to distinguish between different facial expressions.
Infants have a developed sense of hearing at birth, being capable of recognising their mother’s voice and displaying preferences for certain sounds.
In terms of vision, newborns can see clearly within a range of 8 to 12 inches and have a preference for high-contrast patterns, but their visual acuity improves significantly over the first six months of life.

Perceptual development refers to the ability of a child to make sense of sensory input, whereas cognitive development is about how children come to understand the world around them.
Visual perception skills are necessary for recognising patterns, tracking moving objects, and depth perception. These skills typically improve during the first year of life.
The development of auditory perception allows children to localise sound, recognise different sound patterns, and eventually understand spoken language.

Depth perception, the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions, is a complex perceptual skill that develops over time.
Studies using visual cliffs suggest that depth perception becomes established around the 6th to 14th month of life, evolving from an initial wariness of heights into a more sophisticated understanding of depth.

A major developmental milestone in perceptual and cognitive development is achieving object permanence, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer visible or in direct touch.
The concept of object permanence forms the basis of children’s understanding of cause-and-effect relationships.

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development emphasises the active role of children in their perceptual development, including the concept of schema and assimilation.
The information-processing theory suggests that cognitive development happens gradually and continuously, focusing on the development of specific cognitive skills.
Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory highlights the influence of social interactions and culture on cognitive development, stressing the importance of community and language.

Experience and maturation both play a critical role in perceptual development. While some perceptual abilities are present at birth, others require time to develop and mature.
Experience helps refine perceptual abilities, just like the environment and cultural contexts can shape the path of cognitive development.

Sensory integration is the process by which the brain receives, organises and interprets sensory information.
Difficulties in sensory integration can lead to issues in development, learning, behaviour and motor skills.
Occupational therapy can help improve sensory integration and thereby support perceptual and cognitive development.