Written by: Sarit Levy National Vision Instructor, Yael Carmon Physiotherapist , Ruti Harel Occupational Clinic and Elia Team
The basis for our work is the deep understanding that vision affects all areas of development, it is the organizing sense that pushes us to connect with the environment, stimulates curiosity and through it we perceive and understand the world. Vision affects motor, cognitive and behavioral ability. The severity and nature of visual impairment are important factors in the effect of visual impairment on development. As the child develops, his visual function seems to improve, but in fact his vision remains as it was. In other words, it seems as if the child sees more, but this is not the case, his vision remains and only his visual function improves.
In early childhood, toddlers explore their physical and human environment by virtue of the curiosity and instinct of action inherent in them. The first agents of inquiry are the “close” senses touch, taste, smell, then join in listening, looking and imitating. Many knowledge and abilities are learned from context, connection and interaction depend on significant vision for communication development and social abilities. While children see can adapt to the environment and infer hearing. At the same time, a visually impaired child will need adult mediation to understand the situation he or she is in. Babies with blindness or visual impairment have fewer learning opportunities. Due to the impairments, they show less inquisitiveness and tend to be more static, having difficulty coping with multiple stimuli. Temporarily and for learning need an adapted environment.
עIn order to enable optimal care for children with visual impairments, we must adapt the treatment to the child’s character and the characteristics of his or her disabilities.
.To view and download the full article, click here: Emphasis during therapeutic work with children with visual impairments or with blindness
