Problems Associated With Rehabilitating the Visually Impaired

Therapists serving visually impaired patients have many concerns. A visually impaired person may suffer from lack of peripheral vision, color blindness, the inability to see three-dimensional objects or simply have extremely poor or blurry vision. According to the Social Security Administration, a visually impaired person is not considered legally blind unless their eyesight is 20/200 or less in their healthier eye with prescription lenses. A vision therapist needs to adapt treatment methods to fit a patient's needs, and confer with doctors to determine if eyesight impairment or blindness has occurred because of trauma to the eye, diabetes, glaucoma or other problems.

The Sight-Impaired Child in the Classroom

• The visual therapist treating children or teenagers has many questions to deal with even before therapy begins. The therapist has to determine if the child will flourish in a standard elementary or high school with visual rehab outside of the classroom or if the child would be better off in a special school catering to the visually impaired. If the child is a good candidate for a normal classroom, he or she will still need special materials, such as large-print books, magnifying glasses, special computer software, audio books or films with subtitles. Legally blind students need books and other learning materials written in braille.The child needs to adapt to using these materials while keeping up with fellow students with regular eyesight. The attitudes of teachers and school administrators and, of course, the child's own temperament need to be considered when integrating the child into classroom activities.

Using New Technology and Equipment

• From GPS (global positioning systems) made specifically for the visually impaired to talking clocks and thermometers, many everyday appliances can be tailored for use by partially sighted or blind individuals. Some adaptive items are covered by the patient's insurance. Others are paid for out-of-pocket or donated by organizations for the blind.

Adjusting to the Workplace

• Adults with recently diagnosed visual problems need to adapt their old work habits to their eyesight. If a sudden injury or sight abnormalities related to diabetes or another chronic condition caused visual impairment, the worker has to learn how to complete old tasks in a new way. The visually impaired person can operate certain machinery, type or answer phones by touch, especially if they have done those tasks previously in the same office. A person who has just experienced blindness or partial visual impairment needs to get used to adaptive methods before feeling at ease with work tasks, and this may take awhile. In some cases, working at home or transferring to another job may be preferable if initial rehabilitation is difficult.

Emotional Response to Visual Rehab

• Remember that the emotional and mental responses to the rehabilitation process is as important as the rehab itself. A visually impaired person with a good attitude will adapt to sight problems better than a depressed person. Visual therapists and doctors should consider psychotherapy or counseling for depressed visually impaired patients and their families. Recently diagnosed people are most apt to suffer from depression, so take this into account when treating new patients.

Serious Visual Impairment and Residential Treatment

• Some people suffering from severe visual problems may need to attend a residential rehab facility. These facilities offer programs that may last up to a year. They teach patients how to live independently and focus on normal daily activities, like driving, cooking, shopping, housework and traveling. Legally blind patients also learn how to read braille or walk with a white mobility cane.