The Impact of Developmental Factors on Stereotypic Rocking of Children with Visual Impairments

Abstract

Of 52 children who attended a sports camp for children with visual impairments, 15 demonstrated stereotypic rocking currently or in the past. Three factors were associated with rocking: etiology of visual impairment, visual status, and early medical history. Children who were the most likely to exhibit rocking were those with retinopathy of prematurity who underwent lengthy hospital stays and multiple surgeries early in their lives and who were totally blind from birth.

Autistic-Like Features in Visually Impaired Children: A Review of Literature and Directions for Future Research

“…Other stereotypical behaviors typically observed in visually impaired children are motor stereotypes. These include repetitive head/body rocking, thumb sucking, jumping, swirling, and repetitive hand/finger movements [89,92,93,[97][98][99]. However, in a study by McHugh and Lieberman [94], it has been suggested that body rocking often occurs also in children with retinopathy of prematurity and severe VI.…”

The Experiences of Parents of Students with Visual Impairments who are Professionals in the Field of Visual Impairment

“…Although there is little empirical literature on the specific skills acquired by parents of visually impaired students, extensive anecdotal descriptions and qualitative studies have acknowledged the parenting experience as a source of understanding visually impaired children. Examples include McHugh and Lieberman (2003), who used questionnaires and interviews to gather information from parents about the strategies they used to decrease stereotypical behaviors in children; Botting (2003), who discussed the interventions that were effective in discouraging her son's eye pressing; and Bugbee (2006), who described her increased understanding of the ways in which her daughter learned through active involvement with materials. For many parents, the logical extension of their personal learning is to become professionals who can apply the same learning with others who are visually impaired.…”

Blindness

“…Essentially, the question is whether such behaviors, when demonstrated by blind children, indicate ASD. Blindness literature can offer other hypotheses for what are viewed as autistic-like behaviors in blind children: Careful consideration should be given to sensory and social deprivation, early medical complications, limited motor or physical activities, lack of ability to imitate, lack of a variety of activities, self-regulation, and others (Huebner 1986;McHugh and Lieberman 2003;Warren 1984).…”