Balance

A normally sighted adult person uses three different sources of information forbalance: the balance organ in the inner ear, proprioseptive information from thelower extremities and trunk and visual information from the peripheral visual field.If an infant is visually impaired and has not yet had much experience of being upright,there is very little information available from proprioception and the inner ear.


60. The normally sighted twin has proper saving reactions,rightens his body when tilted whereas the visually impaired twin falls to the sidewhen tilted (Dr.Patricia Sonksen's slide).



61. Balance training is a normal part of early physiotherapy.The infant needs to develop saving reactions and to move from one position to anothersmoothly balancing the different parts of his/her body during the movements.



62. The very concentrated and sincere expression onthe infant's face shows how difficult it is to learn to change position without aguidance of peripheral visual field.



63. During our movements we have a continuous controlof our body parts in motion using the feedback from the visual system. If thatfeedback is very limited as in case of severe visual impairment, the infant has tolearn the movements using motor memory which is not at all as exact in many childrenas would be the visual feedback.



64. Balance can be trained in a number of fun play situations,here with a big Bobath ball. Photo A.M.Hartmann 1983.



65. If the child can jump, trampoline is a good toyfor training balancing.



66. When used for the very first time at the age oftwo, even walking on trampoline is a demanding task to a visually impaired child.A supporting hand is much needed.



67. When a nearly blind infant has had good physiotherapyand balance training during the first and second year, at the age of two the childcan have this kind of quite normal balance functions when kicking a ball.



68. Riding is an enjoyable and effective way of trainingbalance.



69. Infants and children who have poor balance shouldnot have metal frames in their glasses because when falling on their face they mayget cuts.



70. In these cases the soft Como frames are very useful.


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