Key points
- Visual impairment is a relatively low-incidence disability, but it frequently has a high impact
- There is considerable range of needs amongst people who have visual impairment
What is visual impairment?
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Visual impairment – where a person has sight loss that cannot be fully corrected using glasses or contact lenses.
Visual impairment may be congenital (present from birth) or acquired (develops after birth). Several causes of visual impairment are age-related, e.g. cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Visual impairment is therefore more common in the elderly than in children.
Role of speech and language therapy for visual impairment
Speech and language therapy contributes by advising and supporting the family, carers and other practitioners, concerning the communication of people who have visual impairment.
Many people who have a learning disability and/or physical disabilities also have visual impairment, and dysphagia is common in this group. Speech and language therapy promotes safe and enjoyable eating, drinking and swallowing in these people.
Related Topic Areas
Key organisations
- Blind Children UK
- Look: National Federation of Families with Visually Impaired Children
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
- Scottish Sensory Centre
- SeeAbility – works with people who have sight loss and other disabilities, including learning and physical disabilities, mental health difficulties, acquired brain injury and life limiting conditions
- Visionary – membership organisation for local sight loss charities, sometimes known as local societies or associations for blind and partially sighted people. The website has a search facility using postcodes to identify the nearest local organisation.
