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Stereotyped behaviours in blind children
1Department IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy.
Insights
Stereotyped behaviors are common in blind children, with over 70% exhibiting them. Interventions promoting adaptive behavior can reduce these mannerisms, while environmental restrictions can increase them.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Stereotyped behaviors are frequently observed in children with blindness.
- Commonly cited causes include hospitalization, motor limitations, and reduced exploration.
- Specific mannerisms like eye pressing are associated with peripheral blindness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and types of stereotyped motor behaviors in congenitally blind children.
- To assess these behaviors in children with and without additional neurodevelopmental disabilities.
- To identify factors influencing the occurrence of stereotyped behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of 26 congenitally blind children using videotape recordings.
- Questionnaires to document the type, frequency, manifestation, and duration of behaviors.
- Inclusion of children with and without other neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Main Results:
- Stereotyped behaviors were observed in 73% of the participants.
- Most frequent behaviors included body rocking, repetitive object handling, hand/finger movements, eye pressing/poking, and face-down lying.
- Reduction in stereotyped behaviors was linked to stimulation of adaptive behavior; increases were associated with environmental restriction, reduced sensory input, and limited motility.
Conclusions:
- Congenitally blind children exhibit a high prevalence of stereotyped motor behaviors.
- Environmental and adaptive behavioral factors significantly influence the manifestation of these behaviors.
- Targeted interventions focusing on adaptive behavior and environmental enrichment may mitigate stereotyped behaviors in blind children.
Abstract:
Stereotyped behaviours occur frequently in blind children. Most authors attribute stereotyped mannerisms to factors such as hospitalisation, motor limitations, and reduced capacity for exploration. There seems to be a specific association between blindness and behavioural mannerisms, such as eye pressing and eye poking, which have been observed in children with peripheral blindness. We studied the prevalence of stereotyped motor behaviours in a sample of congenitally blind children with and without other neurodevelopmental disabilities in order to assess the types and features of such stereotyped behavioural traits. Twenty-six congenitally blind children (11 male and 15 female) were assessed through videotape recording and through a questionnaire focusing on the type, frequency, form of manifestation and duration of the children's stereotyped behaviours. Stereotyped behavioural traits were observed in 19 (73%) of the patients. Stereotyped behaviours most frequently observed were body rocking (8; 30.7%), repetitive handling of objects (8; 30.7%), hand and finger movements (7; 26.9%), eye pressing and eye poking (8; 30.7%), and lying face downwards (6; 22.8%) and jumping (3; 11.4%). We found that a reduction in stereotyped behavioural traits could be obtained by stimulating appropriate adaptive behaviour in children, while these behaviours were increased by restricted environmental conditions, reduced sensory stimulation and reduced motility.