Impact of Sight Loss on the Social-Emotional Development of Children and Associated Interventions

Abstract

Sight loss, which includes a range of conditions from partial vision loss to complete blindness, can significantly impact a child’s social-emotional development. Social-emotional development refers to a child’s ability to understand and manage their feelings, which is essential for navigating social situations and forming healthy relationships. While much research has focused on the physical and cognitive aspects of sight loss, little has been written about its social-emotional effects, making it important to examine how sight loss affects this domain of development. This review explores the various impacts of sight loss on the social-emotional development of children, including its effect on attachment styles and the ability to socialize and form relationships. Interventions such as infant massage, International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Framework, and providing an individualized support system for children with sight loss attempt to address these issues. By reviewing these interventions, this paper seeks to identify effective strategies for mitigating the impact of sight loss on the social-emotional development of children and discusses the importance of their implementation. Through synthesizing current research, this paper aims to deepen understanding and inform strategies to promote positive social-emotional outcomes for children with sight loss.