Do Mothers Interact Differently with Children who are Visually Impaired?

This study compared the interaction behaviors of mothers of young children with visual impairments to those of mothers of mildly delayed children with normal sight in a free-play setting using videotapes of mother-child dyads. The children were matched according to chronological age, as well as developmental age. It was found that the mothers of children with visual impairments were more physically involved with their children, used more controlling strategies, and spoke more to them than did the mothers of fully sighted children.