Vision Rehabilitation In Developmentally Delayed Children: Assessment, Intervention, And Outcomes

Dr Shabana Chaudhry

Children's Hospital & Institute Of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and diagnose any visual handicap and to provide early possible intervention so that developmentally delayed children can have as normal vision as possible and can catch up with their normal peers in development and growth.

Methods: Study includes 300 patients referred to eye OPD during the period of 1 year from Sep.2009 to Sep 2010. Patients included in the study were mild to moderate cerebral palsy, mild autism and learning disability. Age ranges between 4 months to 14 years.

Results: Early intervention to improve the vision accelerates the rate of general development in the child and facilitate the acquisition of new behaviors and skills by the child.

Conclusions: Vision plays an essential role in the development and visual deficit constitutes a risk factor not only for visuo-sensory development, but also for overall development.