Page 61 - DEDU506_SPECIAL_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Unit 8: Identification, Causes, Problems of Visually Impaired

Unit 8: Identification, Causes, Problems of Visually Notes

Impaired

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
8.1 Identifying Students with Visual Impairment
8.2 Causes of Blindness, Impaired, Low Vision, Vision Loss, Legally Blind, Loss of Vision
8.3 Problems Facing by Visually Impaired Child
8.4 Summary
8.5 Keywords
8.6 Review Questions
8.7 Further Readings

Objectives

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below:
• to be able to identify students with visual impaiment.
• to describe the causes of blindness, impaired low vision, vision loss legally blind, loss of vision.
• to explain about problems facing by visually impaired child.

Introduction

The term 'visual impairment' is used to describe any kind of vision loss, ranging from someone
having no sight at all to someone who has partial vision loss. People who are legally blind have some
vision, but have lost enough sight that it requires them to stand 20 feet from an object to see it as well
as someone with perfect vision who could see it 200 feet away. Children who are visually impaired
since birth have congenital blindness, which can have several causes. This type of blindness can be
inherited or caused by an infection transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy.
Conditions that can cause vision loss after birth include amblyopia, or reduced vision in an eye
caused by lack of use of it in the first few years of life. Strabismus, or misalignment/crossing of the
eyes, is a common cause of amblyopia. The condition happens when the brain begins ignoring
messages sent by one of the misaligned eyes. Lazy eye also occurs when the brain may suppress
images from the weaker eye and the vision in that eye stops developing normally.
8.1 Identifying Students with Visual Impairment

Students with visual impairment may look like typical children, but early signs can indicate a problem.
These signs are important because identification of visual impaired students leads to early intervention.
Early identification of students with visual impairment is extremely important because early
intervention will be most effective. Sometimes it is unclear whether a child has a vision problem or
not. Physical signs of vision problems include eyelids drooping over one or both eyes, or eyelids that
do not completely cover the eyes when the child closes them. If a child has a clear squint, has jerky
eye movements, or has eyes that do not move together, parents should see a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Other signs that are indicative of problems are using the eyes unusually, such as:
• not looking at others in the eyes
• reaching in front of or beyond what the child wants

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 55