Mannerisms in the Congenitally Blind Child

Abstract

□ In summary: (1) Mannerisms are behaviors that the blind child uses to cope with tensions created by situations of frustration, fear, excitement, stimulation deficit, physical activity deprivation, insecurity, etc. (2) The blind child resorts to mannerisms, which are non-instrumental gross motor behaviors learned during early infancy, when he does not have a set of strong instrumental coping behaviors. (3) The blind child's lack of vision impedes the development of essential instrumental behaviors that are learned during infancy, such as reaching and crawling. (4) The blind infant must be given assistance which will enable him to develop each of his instrumental behaviors more completely, especially during the critical period of development for each behavior.