Preverbal Communication of Blind Infants and Their Mothers

Films of interactions between five mothers and their blind infants, aged 11 months to 2 years, 8 months, made at regular intervals over six months, were analyzed to determine the development of communicative skills in each mother-infant dyad. It was found that, although the frequency of the infants’ vocalizations was within normal limits, the vocalizations did not follow normal patterns of responsiveness, and the mothers’ responses to them were weak and inconsistent. Suggestions are made for a highly structured program to enhance the communicative skills of parents and their blind infants.