Vision
is one of our five senses. Being able to see gives us tremendous access to
learning about the world around us—people’s faces and the subtleties of
expression, what different things look like and how big they are, and the
physical environments where we live and move, including approaching hazards.
When
a child has a visual impairment, it is cause for immediate attention. That’s
because so much learning typically occurs visually. When vision loss goes
undetected, children are delayed in developing a wide range of skills. While
they can do virtually all the activities and tasks that sighted children take
for granted, children who are visually impaired often need to learn to do them
in a different way or using different tools or materials. (2) Central to their
learning will be touching, listening, smelling, tasting, moving, and using
whatever vision they have. (3) The assistance of parents, family members,
friends, caregivers, and educators can be indispensable in that process. More
will be said about this in a moment.
Signs
of a Visual Impairment
It’s
very important to diagnose and address visual impairment in children as soon as
possible. Some vision screening may occur at birth, especially if the baby is
born prematurely or there’s a family history of vision problems, but baby
wellness visits as early as six months should also include basic vision
screening to ensure that a little one’s eyes are developing and functioning as
might be expected.
Types
of Visual Impairment
Not
all visual impairments are the same, although the umbrella term “visual impairment”
may be used to describe generally the consequence of an eye condition or
disorder.
The
eye has different parts that work together to create our ability to see. When a
part of the eye doesn’t work right or communicate well with the brain, vision is
impaired.
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