Assessment and Use of Vision: Critical Needs of Hearing-Impaired Students

Abstract

This paper stresses the significant role of vision in the general developmental and educational processes for hearing-impaired students with and without visual impairments. Recommendations based on the results of a project on identification of visual impairments conducted by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) are summarized, and suggestions are made for optimizing the use of vision for communication and learning by hearing-impaired students who do and do not have visual impairments. Cooperative efforts by professionals whose expertise is vision with professionals whose expertise is audition are essential if hearing-impaired students are to have the opportunity to use their vision as effectively as possible for communication and learning.

Visual screening in a school for hearing‐impaired children

“…The importance of good vision for hearing-impaired children is universally recognized; appropriate screening systems extend this recognition to practical care, correction and support. In particular, the k/isual needs of deaf children demand co-operation between specialists Tom both fields: Johnson et al (1981) suggest that: all programs serving hearing-impaired persons . .…”

“…When one of these is seriously impaired, the other is used to compensate (Hicks & Pfau 1979). As the degree of impairment increases, the role of the remaining sense becomes progressively more significant (Caccamise et al 1981). Thus, hearing-impaired pupils may compensate by making greater use of visual-perceptual cues than their hearing peers (Eckley et al 1980).…”

“…Secondly, many researchers have reported high incidences of visual defect among hearing-impaired children relative to their hearing peers. Specific rates of incidence vary with population and the definition of 'visual defect", but a review of the hterature suggests ranges of 17% to 30% among hearing children (Coieman 1970, Regenbogen & Godel 1985, compared with 44% to 65% among hearing-impaired pupils (Mohindra 1976, Johnson et al 1981, Regenbogen & Godel 1985, Fillman et al 1987, Wager & Whale 1988. This comparison combines with awareness of disorders such as Usher's syndrome (congenital deafness and retinitis pigmentosa), affecting an estimated 1% to 6% of the congenitally hearing-impaired population (Vernon 1973, Fillman etal.…”