CHARGE Association: Symptoms, behaviour and intervention

This paper reviews current knowledge on CHARGE Association. CHARGE is a relatively recently identified, heterogeneous, condition about which there is a good deal of medical information concerning the developmental anomalies involved. These include coloboma, heart defects, atrestia, retardation of development or growth, genital hypoplasia and ear problems including deafness. There is far less published material concerning the psychological and educational implications. The severity, impact and interaction between the six developmental anomalies characterising the condition can vary greatly. The paper considers aspects related to social behaviour and factors to be considered when planning educational interventions with this low incidence group of children who have more significant additional needs. Given the relatively low incidence of children with dual sensory impairment in the population and the wide range of demands made on educational psychologists' time, it is perhaps not surprising that most have little knowledge or experience of CHARGE Association. The purpose of this short paper, therefore, is to describe the main features of the condition, to note the incidence, to look at its impact upon learning and behaviour, and to consider the implications for intervention.