Citation

Troster H, Brambring M. J. Appl. Dev. Psychol. 1993; 14(1): 83-106.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

To compare blind and sighted infants, the areas of development containing a visual motor coordination (fine-motor and locomotor development) were differentiated from those fields of motor development that are not directly affected by the lack of sight (posture control in prone, supine, sitting, and standing). Both areas were assessed in 5 nine-month-old and 16 twelve-month-old congenitally blind infants as well as in 23 nine-month-old and 24 twelve-month-old sighted infants. The congenitally blind infants exhibited no further disabilities apart from blindness. The comparison showed that blind infants did not just exhibit delays in those areas of their motor development that were directly affected by the lack of sight (fine-motor skills, locomotion). In developmental fields that require no visuomotor coordination (posture control, basic manual skills), blind 9- and 12-month-olds were not yet able to achieve the level of development of sighted infants. The delay in posture control in blind infants was considered to result from the lower level of motor stimulation due to the lack of sight. The cause for the delayed acquisition of fine-motor and locomotor skills, in contrast, appeared to be due to the fact that cognitive prerequisites, which would allow the blind infants to replace visuomotor coordination with an audioproprioceptive coordination and control of movement, were still lacking at this age.