MAJOR CAUSES OF VISUAL IMPAIREMENT FOR LEARNERS IN ELBURGON

ZONE NAKURU COUNTY

TERM PAPER
PRESENTED BY
Hortnice jagoks

SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE

AWARD OF DIPLOMA COURSE IN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION

AT
KENYA INSTITUTE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
APRIL 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction
2.0 Definition of terms
3.0 Importance of studying the topic
4.0 Causes of visual impairment
4.01 pre-natal causes
4.02 per-natal causes
4.03 post-natal causes
5.0 categories of visual impairment learners
6.0 characteristics of visual impairment
7.0 Incidences and prevalence of learners
8.0 Management strategies of visual impairment.
9.0 Conclusion.
10.0 References.

The definitions of visual impairment are many as be noticed by different authors.

According to Bill R. Gearherat mostly who is the author of the book special education for
learners with visual impairment says that is award use to illustrate any clinically diagnosable
deviation in parts of the eye.
According to Stephen Mwaura and Samuel Wanyera the author if Module ID 001 says that the
visual impaired are the people with difficulties in the structure and of functioning of the eye.
According to Frank .M. Hewett with Steven R. Farmess who are the authors of educationexceptional learners Second Edition says that the first level describes individuals who are
unable to read write even with the aid of optical or other visual devices. They are unable to
identify familiar objects in the environment; also they are unable to move safely through an
unfamiliar environment without the aid of a dog, cane, or sighted person to lead them to walk
in the environment.

2.0 DEFINATION OF TERMS

2.01 Impairment
This refers to any loss or damage to a part of the body through either accident,
disease, genetic factors or other causes. Thus leads to the loss or weakening of the part
affected.
2.02 Disability
This refers to any loss of functional ability to perform an activity in the manner or
within the range generally considered normal for a human being within the cultural context.
2.03 Special needs
These are conditions that hinder an individuals normal learning and developments.
2.04 Special Education:
This is specially designed programme of instructions designed to meet the unique
individual need of learners with special need including visual impairment.
2.05 Strategies
These are the methods used for teaching learners under special needs education and
learning ways or methods, techniques.
2.06 Incidence
This refers to the number of new cases of learners with special needs and disabilities
in a given period of time.
2.07 Prevalence
Refers to the total number of existing cases of learners with special needs in the
population at a given time usually expressed per percentage of every one thousand.

3.0 IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Reasons for the study this visual impairment are as follows;i.

ii.
iii.
iv.

Educational interventions.
Sociological interventions.
Medical interventions.
Psychological interventions.

In educational intervention. Helps one to know how to handle visual impairments

learners. Helps the learners to acquire education like other normal children in assisting
them with supportive equipment like Brailles, proper placement
In sociological interventions. Helps the learner to be explained on how to live, eat, play
and interact with others regardless her/his disabilities.
In medical interventions screening can be done in this learner which aid in early
intervention and referral if need be. This helps for immediate treatment and early
placement for a learner. Also helps the parents/teacher on how to take care of such
learners prevent further injuries either by parents giving learners balanced diet to eat.
In psychological interventions. Guidance and counseling is provided where by
specialized will come to the community or CBR to train the learners or social workers on
how to help these learners, they train learners on activities of daily living e.g. dressing,
eating even economic activities they can do to become self independence. This will help
all stakeholders to take care on prevention. Some causes visual impairments

4.0 CAUSES OF VISUAL IMPAIREMENT

Visual impairment causes can be classified into three categories like;a) Pre-natal causes
b) Peri-natal causes
c) Post-natal causes
4.1 PRE-NATAL CAUSES OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (BEFORE BIRTH)
4.1.1 Hereditary factors/causes.
These are causes which are inherited within or from families or from parents to off
slings especially the mother who is a carrier the genes affect a boy child or baby. We say
genetically.
According to Ronald Gulliford and Grahan Upton in their book special Education
Needs they say that many eyes conditions are in hereditary and can be passed to a
child through one parent carrying the gene or in some cases where both passed on or
are carriers.
In some societies, where people closely related blood do marry hence it will increase the
chances of the disability eye conditions and other impairments being passed on.
4.1.2 Poor nutrition by the mother
During pregnancy mother are advised to take a balanced diet and abstain from drugs Abuse
without eating balanced diet will result to night blindness which is caused due to inadequate of
foods.
4.1.3 Diseases
During pre-natal stage, some mothers may suffer from Veneral diseases like Gonorrhea,
syphilis, Asthma, Diabetes, malaria, meningitis, Tuberculosis which will transmit the disease to
unborn baby and if these diseases are not treated they may cause visual impairment to the young ones,
thus pregnant mothers are advised to visit clinics or hospitals for checkups.
4.1.4 Use of drugs
Expectant mothers are advised on drugs abuse in either taking under dose or taking expired drugs like
antibiotics or overdose for this will lead to a child born having visual impairment.
4.1.5 Accidents
Pregnant mothers if involved in the accident like fail down that impact may lead to brain damage on the
other hand results to chances on unborn visually impaired.
4.1.6 X-rays and radiations

During the first three months of pregnancy if mothers took x-ray and radiation can cause visual
impairment to their children if they can often exposed to x-rays the central nervous system fail to coordinate with eye muscles thus leads to blindness
4.2 PERI-NATAL CAUSE OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
Peri-natal causes of visual of impairment include:
4.2.1 Breach birth
This is a condition where by babys legs come out first during delivery instead of the normal where the
head comes out first. This occurs due to the may be insufficient oxygen or lack of total oxygen to the
baby. If the baby survives it might suffer from visual impairment due to lack of oxygen, thus check up
should be carried often to look the position of the child as a mother visit clinic.
4.2.2 Pre-Mature Birth.
This is the situation where a child is born before the actual time of nine months.
According to John B. Mordocks, in his book the other children an introduction to exceptionality in
page 289, he says retrolented fibroplasias, a disorder resulting from administration of high oxygen
concentrations over prolonged periods of prematurity born babies since 1954, the administration of
oxygen incubators has been carefully monitored and the incidence of this disorder is now quite
according to Franklin Hewett with Steven R. Forness in their education page 146 says that 33% to poison
in leading to blindness include retrolental fibro-plasia, a disease within a spectacular history. It occurred
only in premature babies emerge establishing the increased concentration of oxygen routinely used in
incubators with premature infants as the cause of visually impaired.
4.2.3 Poor hygiene.
The environment of the delivery might have contributed to visual impairment. If the child is born in a
dirty place either with flies, bud forugh bonies might find their ways into the of the infant hence can
cause visual impairment. Midwives and doctors should be clean and the environment should be clean
for they have gloves and expectant mothers should go to hospital for delivery.
4.3 POST-NATAL CAUSES OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (AFTER BIRTH)
These are the causes which contribute to childs life time and thus they include:
4.3.1 Accidents and Injuries
According to Frank M. Heweth with Steven Rorness in their book exceptional learners Says Second
Edition Pg 148 it studies that visual impairment take 2.4% are caused by injuries and accidents.
4.3.2 Exposure to poisonous agents.

This is some gases or insects cab be poisonous when entering in ones eye which will lead to itching
cause visual impairment.
4.3.3 Poor nutrition
Eating unbalanced food more especially those which lack vitamins may are likely to suffer from visual
impairment. Those foods which are recommended to proper eyesight are like carrots without these
vitamins it will lead to night blindness.
4.3.4 Drug Abuse
When drugs are overdosed or under dosed when taken without the doctors prescription will
cause blindness, therefore medicine must be taken as required by the doctor.
4.3.5 Diabetic Retiapulty
This is a common disease which occurs when tiny blood vessels on the retina damaged due to
diabetic when the condition worsens it leads to blindness.
4.3.6 Old Age.

If there is no any refractive errors. The eye lens is elastic hence can control the amount
of light entering into the eye such person can read things near or far without any problem. In
the advanced age of 50s the eye lens reduces to poor control of light which results to visual
impairment.
4.3.7 Brain Tumor (growth)

This is the growth in the whole or part of the brain which will lead to blockage in the
nervous hence optical muscles will transmit vision to the eye which might not be
effective causing visual impairment.

5.0 CATEGORIES OF VISUAL IMPAIRED LERANERS

Visual impairment can be classified into two group
a) Who are blind

b) With low vision

5.01 Learners who are blind
These are learners who have totally lost their sense of vision and are unable to tell the
difference between darkness and light.
5.02 Learners with low vision
Anybody with low vision with low vision is visually impaired but may increase visual functioning through
the use of optical aids and non optical aids.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
6.01 Some of the characteristics of learners with low Vision;

Complain of not seeing well.

Have difficulties reading and copying from the chalk board.
Read and write with heads tilted to one side.
Read books held very close to or very far from the eyes.
Complain about too much or little light in the classroom.
Regularity makes quick eye movements from side to side.
Have difficulties in grasping object that are directing in front of them.

6.02 Characteristics of learners who are blind.

Some of the characteristics of learners who are blind includes;

Poor posture.
Poking of the eyes
Rocking of the body back and forth.
Turning of their heads rapidly from side to side.
Clapping of their hands at inappropriately times.

7.0 INCIDENCES AND PREVALENCE OF LEARNERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

7.01 Prevalence
Currently, there is no up day statistics on the total population of learners who have visual
impairment cases in Elburgon zone. However, it was estimated that about 2% of the population
of about 200 children.
7.02 Incidence

According to research it is estimated that about 40% of all Visual impairment cases in Elburgon
zone are due to cataract. Cataract is a condition in which the lens inside the eye lose
transparency and turns milky clouds or opaque.

8.0 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

8.01 What they need for learning;
Braille
Low vision devices
Tactile materials
Environmental modifications
Appropriate teaching learning strategies.
8.02 Teaching strategies used when working with learners who are visually impaired.

Call the student by name and speak directly him.

Allow the learner choose the best seating positions in order to utilize the remaining
senses.
Teach the learner to communicate none verbally through gestures and facial expression.
Use large print materials only after assessment with visual needs.
Vary type of instructions and include hands on activities, co-operative learning or use of
real life materials.
Use high contrast materials.
Assign a classmate to assist the learners who needs help without being too dependent
on others.
Take breaks at regular intervals to minimize fatigue
Inform all concerned in advance of the incases of field trip.

REFERENCE

Gulliford R. and Upton (1972) Special Education needs published by Rontledge London.
Mordock B. 1938 the other children an introduction exceptionally Harper and Row publishers,
London.
Gearheart B.R (1980) Special Education for 803. The Mosby company London.
Frank m. Hewett and Steven R Forness Educational
Exceptional learners second edition.
Cartaright, Cartwright and word (1984) Educating special learners, wardsworth publishing
company California.

CONCLUSION
After a long study and research on the topic of visual impairment among people of Elburgon
zone in Nakuru county. I therefore suggest the following to be done; Guidance and Counseling
to parents awareness in the environment factors concerning visual impaired.
Community to be sensitized to accept their children the way they are ready to support them
concerning childrens right.
Immunization to be done to all children their early years and to visit different medical centres
where some small seminars are held to advice mothers on how feeding many ones of proper
nutrition /balanced diet.
Parents should be advised to participate in social support by accepting to make groups which
can support their blind children in school and after schooling.