Unit 2: Definition, types, characteristics and educational

needs of children with disabilities

2.1. Hearing Impairment: Definition and types

Hearing impairment is a partial or total inability to hear. It is a disability which is

sub-divided in two categories of deaf and hard of hearing.

 “Deaf” means persons having 70 dB hearing loss in speech frequencies in

both ears.

 “Hard of hearing” means person having 60 dB to 70 dB hearing loss in

speech frequencies in both ears.

A pure tone audiometry test measures the softest, or least audible, sound that a

person can hear. During the test, you will wear earphones and hear a range of
sounds directed to one ear at a time. The loudness of sound is measured in decibels
(dB).
TYPES OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT
2.2. Visual Impairment: Definition and types
Visual impairment is a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not
fixable by usual means, such as glasses. Visual impairment may cause people
difficulties with normal daily activities such as driving, reading, socializing, and
walking.

Visually impaired children may be defined as those children who suffer from theas
those children who suffer from the impaired conditions, difficulties andimpaired
conditions, difficulties and deficiencies presentdeficiencies present in their visual
organsin their visual organs which make them different from childrenwhich make
them different from children with normal vision to extent of requiringwith normal
vision to extent of requiring special education provision.special education
provision.

A visual impairment refers to when you lose part or all of your ability to see (or
vision). The impairment must persist even with the use of eyeglasses, contact
lenses, medication, or surgery.

1. Partially Sighted There is some type of visual problem that has resulted for
the child to need special education

2.  Low Vision Refers to severe visual impairment (does not only include
distance vision) Would apply to people who are unable to read at a normal
viewing distance even with glasses Use vision and other senses to learn May
need accommodations such as larger print, more lighting and sometimes
Braille.  limited or diminished vision that cannot be corrected with standard
lenses Partial Sight – the field of vision is impaired because of an illness, a
degenerative syndrome, or trauma. Individuals who have a visual acuity in
the range of 20/70 to 20/200.

3.  Legally Blind and Totally Blind When a person has less than 20/200 vision
in their better eye Very limited field of vision. Only 20 degrees at the widest
point Learn by using Braille and other non-visual media . defined as a visual
acuity of 20/200 with best correction in the best eye or a visual field loss in a
visual field of 20 degrees or less. The legally blind person can see at 20 feet
what the average person can see at 200 feet. Only 2% of people with vision
impairments are totally blind.
-Colour Blindness

Most colour blind people are able to see things as clearly as other people but they
unable to fully ‘see’ red, green or blue light. There are different types of colour
blindness and there are extremely rare cases where people are unable to see any
colour at all . The most common form of colour blindness is known as red/green
colour blindness and most colour blind people suffer from this. Although known as
red/green colour blindness this does not mean sufferers mix up red and green, it
means they mix up all colours which have some red or green as part of the whole
colour. For example, a red/green colour blind person will confuse a blue and a
purple because they can’t ‘see’ the red element of the colour
purple.
The most common causes of visual impairment globally are:
 uncorrected refractive errors (43%)
 cataracts (33%)
 glaucoma (2%). 
 age related macular degeneration
 diabetic retinopathy
 corneal clouding
 childhood blindness
 infections
 stroke
 prematurity
 trauma.
2.3. Mental Retardation: Definition and types
According to the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities,
Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, enacted
in India, mental retardation means a “condition of arrested or
incomplete development of mind of a person which is specially
characterized by sub-normality of intelligence”.

According to WHO (ICD 10)

A condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind,
which is especially characterized by impairment of skills
manifested during the developmental period, skills which
contribute to the overall level of intelligence, i.e. cognitive,
language, motor, and social abilities. Retardation can occur with
or without any other mental or physical condition

The AAMR 2002 definition reads “Mental retardation is a

disability characterized by significant limitations, both in
intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour, as expressed
in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills, the disability
originating before the age of 18.
2.4. Neuro–muscular: Definition and types
Neuromuscular disease is a broad term that encompasses many diseases and
ailments that impair the functioning of the muscles. The disease may be genetically
passed down or due to a spontaneous genetic mutation, may be due to an abnormal
immune response, inflammation, poisoning, toxins or tumors. Some neuromuscular
disorders simply have no known cause. These may directly involve the muscle
directly or indirectly by involving the nerves or the Neuromuscular junction (the
meeting point of the motor nerves and muscle fibre). The symptoms of
Neuromuscular diseases may include- Numbness, painful abnormal sensation,
muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, muscle pain or twitching (fasciculation).
Neuromuscular diseases are rare conditions that affect some part of the
neuromuscular system, such as: • the muscles • nerves in the peripheral nervous
system (e.g., arms and legs) • the neuromuscular junction where the nerves and
muscles meet • nerves in the central nervous system (motor neurons in the spinal
cord)
2.5. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Definition and types

What Is Autism?
Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a
complicated condition that includes problems with communication
and behavior. It can involve a wide range of symptoms and skills.
ASD can be a minor problem or a disability that needs full-time
care in a special facility.
People with autism have trouble with communication. They have
trouble understanding what other people think and feel. This makes
it hard for them to express themselves, either with words or
through gestures, facial expressions, and touch.
People with autism might have problems with learning. Their skills
might develop unevenly. For example, they could have trouble
communicating but be unusually good at art, music, math, or
memory. Because of this, they might do especially well on tests of
analysis or problem-solving.
More children are diagnosed with autism now than ever before. But
the latest numbers could be higher because of changes in how it’s
diagnosed, not because more children have a disorder.
Common SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM include:

 A lack of eye contact
 A narrow range of interests or intense interest in certain topics
 Doing something over and over, like repeating words or
phrases, rocking back and forth, or flipping a lever
 High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that
seem ordinary to other people
 Not looking at or listening to other people
 Not looking at things when another person points at them
 Not wanting to be held or cuddled
 Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial
expressions, or tone of voice
 Talking in a sing-song, flat, or robotic voice
  Trouble adapting to changes in routine

TYPES

These types were once thought to be separate conditions. Now,

they fall under the range of autism spectrum disorders. They
include:

 Asperger'ssyndrome. These children don't have a problem

with language; in fact, they tend to score in the average or
above-average range on intelligence tests. But they have
social problems and a narrow scope of interests.
 Autistic disorder. This is what most people think of when
they hear the word "autism." It refers to problems with social
interactions, communication, and play in children younger
than 3 years. This is sometimes called “classic” autism and
kanner’s syndrome. its symptoms can include challenges
communicating or understanding others, engaging in virtually
no eye contact, and a hypersensitivity to stimuli (smell, light,
noise, taste, or touch).Children who have been diagnosed with
Kanner’s Syndrome display a profound need for routine and
often display no interest in the world around them. These
children turn their attention inward and show little desire to
interact with others.
 Childhood disintegrative disorder. These children have
typical development for at least 2 years and then lose some or
most of their communication and social skills. Communication
skills will disappear and will even stop talking at one point
They will regress and eventually lose the motor skills they had
once mastered.
 Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD or atypical
autism). Your doctor might use this term if your child has
some autistic behavior, like delays in social and
 communications skills, but doesn’t fit into another category.
They require the same interventions and treatments.
 Rett’s Syndrome include social communication and an
impaired ability to use one’s hands (such as difficulty with
gross and fine motor skills or repetitive hand and arm
flapping), symptoms that are also indicative of autism
spectrum disorders. First discovered by Dr. Rett