Definition
The relationship between autism and blindness is complex and one for which there is limited consensus regarding its various aspects. Central to examinations of the relationship is a collection of behaviors that have been regarded as characteristic of children who are blind, in particular children who are congenitally blind and children who have profound visual impairment. Among the most frequently noted in references to blind children are stereotyped and ritualistic behaviors, pronounced limitations of social and communicative competence, delayed and limited symbolic play and language, delayed use and reversals of personal pronouns, echolalia and speech imitations, and difficulties with abstract thinking. In addition, self-injurious behaviors, such as eye poking, have been reported. Many of these behaviors also are considered to be characteristic of sighted children who have autism. Because of the seeming commonalities of certain behaviors of children who are blind and...
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Welch, T.R. (2013). Blindness. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_18
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