Adaptive behavior of children and adolescents with visual impairments.
Independent travel and parent education predict better daily-living skills in youth with visual impairments—check both at intake.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Papadopoulos et al. (2011) tracked adaptive behavior in youth who are blind or have low vision.
They looked at age, how well the child moves on their own, and parents' schooling.
No treatment was given; kids were tested once and scores were compared by group.
What they found
Older kids scored higher than younger kids, but all stayed behind same-age peers.
The two strongest predictors of better daily-living skills were independent travel and higher parent education.
How this fits with other research
Alaimo et al. (2015) saw the opposite trend in adults with Down syndrome: adaptive scores dropped after age 12. Together the papers show that age can help or hurt, depending on the diagnosis.
Sharp et al. (2010) also found a plateau around 12 in Down syndrome, matching the idea that growth stops without extra help.
Migler et al. (1969) proved that blind teens can still gain visual self-help skills when teaching is added, hinting that Konstantinos' lower scores may reflect missed teaching, not fixed limits.
Dijkhuizen et al. (2016) added that any vision loss, even with severe ID, slightly lowers ADL scores, confirming vision as a real but small factor.
Why it matters
When you assess a child with little or no vision, ask two quick questions: Can the child travel alone? Did the parents finish school? If both answers are no, plan more intensive adaptive-skill programs and invite mobility specialists early. These simple screens tell you who needs the biggest boost.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The present study explored the total adaptive behavior of children and adolescents with visual impairments, as well as their adaptive behavior in each of the domains of Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization. Moreover, the predictors of the performance and developmental delay in adaptive behavior were investigated. Instrumentation included an informal questionnaire and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Survey Form). Forty-six children and adolescents with visual impairments participated. The results reveal the effect of age on total adaptive behavior and on each of the domains of Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization; the older individuals with visual impairments present better performance but also a higher rate of delay in comparison with younger individuals. Moreover, the ability of independent movement is a predictor of performance and developmental delay on the Daily Living Skills and Socialization. The more independent the mobility of individuals with visual impairments is the better the performance and the lower the level of developmental delay. Moreover, the educational level of parents is a predictor of performance and developmental delay on the Communication and Socialization. The higher the educational level of parents the better the performance and the lower the developmental delay.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.01.021