The study of the 2-10 year-old visually impaired children’s demographic, diagnostic, educational and family support characteristics in Ankara city center

Abstract

Visual impairment in early childhood affects children’s and families' lives significantly. In the present study the demographic, diagnostic, educational, and family support characteristics of 2-10 year-old children with visual impairment are examined. 51 parents, whose children are visually impaired and between the ages of 2 and 10, participated in the study. The survey model was used in the study. Questionnaire was applied to the parents of children with visual impairment. It has been observed that most children with visual deficiency participating in the study have been recognized and diagnosed between 0-3 months. When parents were asked about what is told to them about their children’s visual deficiency reason, their answers were as follows; inheritance, illnesses and infections during pregnancy, excessive oxygenation to the baby while lying in the incubator, and childhood illnesses. Parents’ answers to the question “what made you suspicious about your child’s visual deficiency and what were are behaviors that made you go to the doctor" the answer was seeing their children rubbing their eyes excessively. It was observed that parents mostly preferred elementary schools for the visually impaired ones, from 0-1 year old they preferred special education and rehabilitation support, most children were having both individual and group education, and mostly had Turkish and Math Modules in the schools they attended. About the questions related to family support practices parents’ answers revealed that most of the parents have participated in family education studies about visual impairment. Parents have been identified as participating in family education regarding behavior patterns, communication and development.