This presentation takes students and professionals through visual impairment in children and adolescents - what it is, the causes, possible signs, and strategies for overall well-being.

1. Visual
Impairment &
Development

2. Key points
• Visual impairment can range from
blindness or very low vision to an
inability to see particular colours
• children might be born with vision
impairment, or it might happen
later in childhood
• The way children behave or use
their eyes might indicate the
presence of vision impairment
• Early intervention can help children
with vision impairment develop
well

3. The term 'visual handicap'
is usually not used in
practice.
The more common term is
'visual impairment'.
It refers to someone who may
be unable to carry out normal
activities because of defects of
vision, including blindness

4. This condition can manifest at birth or
develop during early childhood , and its
effects on a child's development are
substantial.
Visual input is one of the primary ways
through which children explore, learn, and
interact with the world around them.

5. Causes of Vision Impairment
Neurological conditions that
affect parts of the brain that
control sight
Genetic conditions like albinism
Illness that happen to some
very premature babies or to
those that have particular
problems during birth
Damage or injury to the eye, to
the pathways connecting the
eye to the brain, or to the visual
centre of the brain.

6. Early signs and
symptoms
Children with vision
impairment might have
typical-looking eyes.

7. Most babies
start to focus
on faces and
objects by 4-5
weeks of age.
By about 6-8
weeks, most
babies will start
smiling at
familiar faces
and things they
see.
But if a baby
has vision
impairment,
they may show
some trouble in
doing the same.

8. Some signs that a
baby has vision
problems:
• eyes move quickly from side to side
• eyes don't follow a face or object
• eyes don't react to bright light being turned on in the
room
• pupils seem white or cloudy rather than black
• eyes turn inwards towards the nose or towards outside
of the face
An older child might:
• hold things close to their face
• say they're tired or rub their eyes a lot
• turn or tilt their head or cover one eye when looking at
things up close
• get tired looking at things up close - reading, drawing etc.
• seem to see better during the day than at night
• seem clumsy - might knock things over or trip on them

9. Effects of Visual
Impairment

10. Areas
affected:
Physical
Cognitive
Social & Emotional
Language &
Communication
Infant-Caregiver
Relationship

11. I. Physical
Development
Children often experience delays due to limited opportunities for exploration and movement
They might be cautious in their movements, leading to slower gross motor skill development such
as crawling, walking
Fine motor skills, like grasping objects may also be affected.
Proper intervention, including physical therapy, can help promote healthier physical development

12. II. Cognitive
Development
Cognitive processes like learning, thinking,
problem-solving etc. may also be affected
Children might face difficulties in understanding
spatial objects, recognizing patterns, and
organizing information visually
Using auditory and tactile methods of learning,
such as hands-on activities can help children excel
in cognitive domains

13. III. Social &
Emotional
Development
Children might struggle to interpret facial expressions
and body language, making it harder to understand and
interact with peers
This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and
reduced self-esteem.

14. III. Social &
Emotional
Development
Educators and caregivers play a crucial role in creating
inclusive environments that encourage social
interactions, communication, and emotional expression.
Developing strong interpersonal skills can empower
children with visual impairments to build meaningful
relationships and develop a positive self-image.

15. IV. Language &
Communication Since children rely heavily on visual cues to learn speech
sounds and nonverbal communication, language
development may be influenced by visual impairment
Early intervention services, including speech therapy, can
help children with visual impairments acquire language
skills effectively.
Methods, such as braille, sign language, and assistive
technologies, can also bridge communication gaps and
enhance language development.

16. V.
Caregiver-
Infant
relationship
Infants who see poorly have great difficulty evoking
stimulating caregiver interaction.
They are unable to make eye contact, imitate, or pick up
non verbal social cues
As a result of this they may receive little adult attention
and other stimulation vital for all aspects of
development

17. EARLY INTERVENTION
FOR CHILDREN
• Therapies
• Education
• Everyday bonding, playing
and communication with the
child.
• Empowering children with
skills they need to foster self-
reliance and prepare them
for adulthood

18. Conclusion Visual impairment presents unique challenges to a
child's development, impacting various domains
including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional
aspects.
However, with early intervention, appropriate
accommodations, and a supportive environment,
these challenges can be overcome.

19. Conclusion
Such children have shown remarkable resilience and
potential in various fields.
Thus it is essential for society to:
• recognize and address their needs
• foster an inclusive and diverse environment
• allowing all children to reach their full potential