Date of Award

1-1-1984

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching & Learning

Abstract

Purpose. This study was designed as an investigation of stereotypic behaviors in blind children and their relationship with autism. Attempts were made to determine the similarities and differences of various groups of blind children in displaying stereotypic behaviors. Specifically, these groups were: (1) those with rubella, (2) those with retrolental fibroplasia, and (3) those blinded by other causes.Procedure. A total of twenty-six blind children were selected from two residential schools for the blind. Each child's cumulative file was reviewed for background information. Systematic observations were conducted on each child for presence of autistic-motility behaviors and eye-oriented behaviors. Observation was for a five-minute period in four environments. These environments were: classroom/structured instruction; mealtime activity/breakfast, lunch, and supper; physical education/movement activity; and unstructured leisure time.Conclusions. From this research, it is concluded that the presence of stereotypic behaviors in all blind children is a fallacy. Where the impairment is in the visual tract of the central nervous system (CNS), stereotypic behaviors in blind children are performed. These included autistic-motility behaviors and the visual behaviors of eye pressing/poking and flicking. These are greater in rubella children as a result of their multiplicity of handicapping conditions. When seizures, diabetes, and other diagnosed neurological diseases or neurologically related disorders are part of a multiple handicap, a wider variety of stereotypic behaviors are performed.RLF blind children, with etiologies of retinal disease at the periphery of the visual tract, manifest only one autistic-motility behavior (rocking) and one eye-related behavior (eye pressing).The blind children with etiologies outside the visual tract of the CNS, congenital cataracts or enucleation, for example, did not exhibit any autistic-motility behaviors or eye-involved behaviors. The lack of vision had no effect on the manifestation of stereotypic behavior.

Download

Share

COinS