Oral language assessment of children with visual impairments: an integrative literature review

Abstract

Purpose to review the national and international literature regarding instruments, methods and techniques for language assessment in visually impaired children. Research strategy searches in the VHL, PUBMED and SCOPUS databases using the descriptors vision disorders, child language, low vision, blindness, speech-language pathology and rehabilitation. Selection criteria articles published in national and international journals, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Studies that were unavailable for reading, with a sample other than children, not addressing the subject, or that reported sensory impairments associated with visual impairments were excluded. Studies that dealt with intervention were also excluded, except for those that also addressed assessment. The references of the articles read in full were selected according to these criteria. The investigators evaluated the proposed assessment instruments/methods/techniques, as well as the objectives of the studies, their samples and main results. Results 157 articles were retrieved, of which 6 were selected for full reading based on the exclusion criteria, and another 6 studies were obtained from their references, thus totaling 12 articles. Seven studies involved preschool and blind children, with various assessment instruments/methods/techniques, ranging from assessments of specific linguistic levels to socio-communicative skills. The objectives of the studies were related to the comparison between the development of children with and without visual impairment. Conclusion the review provided contributions to analyses of the language assessment of visually impaired children, such as the use of the remaining senses; no study had an instrument to assess language levels in schoolchildren with VI.