Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Development of an Audio-based Virtual Gaming Environment to Assist with Navigation Skills in the Blind
Published on: March 27, 2013
Gross motor development and reach on sound as critical tools for the development of the blind child
Fazzi Elisa1, Lanners Josée, Ferrari-Ginevra Oreste
1Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, IRCCS C. Mondino, University of Pavia, IRCCS, Via Palestro 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy. efazzi@unipv.it
Insights
Early intervention strategies are crucial for children with visual impairments. Congenitally blind children showed significant neuromotor development, while those with additional handicaps (B + H) required targeted support for postural-motor skills and reaching on sound.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Congenital blindness and severe visual impairment present unique challenges to early neuromotor development.
- Understanding developmental trajectories is essential for effective early intervention.
- Associated handicaps can significantly impact neuromotor progression in visually impaired children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess early neuromotor development in congenitally blind children, with and without associated handicaps.
- To identify key areas for intervention to support development.
- To inform the development of early intervention strategies for this population.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal assessment of 20 children (9 blind, 11 blind with handicaps) from 4 to 36 months.
- Utilized developmental history, neurological examination, and video-recorded spontaneous activity.
- Employed Reynell-Zinkin Scales, neuroradiological, and neurophysiological investigations.
Main Results:
- Congenitally blind children achieved independent walking (mean 19.8 months) and satisfactory fine motor skills.
- Children with associated handicaps (B + H) showed significantly delayed or absent neuromotor functions.
- 'Reach on sound' was achieved by all blind children by 14.2 months, but only by 9% of B + H subjects.
Conclusions:
- Neuromotor development profiles can be described for blind children with and without handicaps.
- Early intervention should prioritize postural-motor development and 'reach on sound' abilities.
- Targeted strategies are fundamental for supporting the neuromotor progression of visually impaired children.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to assess early neuromotor development in 20 congenitally blind or severely visually impaired children, nine without (B) and 11 with associated handicaps (B + H), in order to develop a strategy for early intervention in these subjects. The mean age at first observation was 11.4 months (range: 4-30 months). The mean follow-up duration was 16.9 months (range: 3-36 months). Assessment included developmental history, neurological examination, video-recording of spontaneous activity and administration of the Reynell-Zinkin Scales and neuroradiological and neurophysiological investigations. All B children walked independently (mean age 19.8 months) and 55.5% crawled (mean age 15 months); the B + H subjects displayed absence of almost all neuromotor functions, except one who walked at 20 months. All the B and just one (9%) of the B + H children developed satisfactory fine motor abilities. 'Reach on sound' at distance was achieved by all the B children by the age of 14.2 months while in the B + H group it was achieved by only two subjects at a median age of 19.5 months. We conclude that it is possible to describe the profile of neuromotor development in B and B + H children; strategies to help postural-motor development and 'reach on sound' appear to be fundamental in early intervention in these subjects.
