Mosca Renata, Kritzinger Alta, van der Linde Jeannie
S Afr J Commun Disord. 2015;62(1):e1-e10. doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v62i1.119.
Language and communication difficulties of young children with visual impairment (VI) are ascribed to intellectual disability, multiple disabilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rather than their sensory impairment. Consequently, the communication difficulties of children with VI may have been underestimated and undertreated.
This report aims to critically appraise recent peer reviewed literature relating to communication and language development in children with VI.
A systematic search of the literature (2003–2013) was completed using the PRISMA guidelines, and primary and secondary search phrases. Nine publications were reviewed in terms of the strength of recent evidence. Thematic analysis was used to describe the early language and communication characteristics of children with VI.
All the selected articles (n = 9) were from developed countries and participants from seven of the studies had congenital VI. Five of the studies received an evidence level rating of III while four articles were rated as IIb. Two main themes emerged from the studies: early intervention, and multiple disabilities and ASD. Language and communication development is affected by VI, especially in the early stages of development. Speech-language therapists should therefore be included in early intervention for children with VI.
Recent evidence on the early language and communication difficulties of children with VI exists, but children in developing countries with acquired VI appear to not be investigated. The identified language and communication developmental characteristics may assist speech-language therapists to build a knowledge base for participation in early intervention for young children with VI and their families.
视力障碍（VI）幼儿的语言和沟通困难被归因于智力残疾、多重残疾和自闭症谱系障碍（ASD），而非其感官损伤。因此，VI儿童的沟通困难可能被低估且治疗不足。
本报告旨在严格评估近期有关VI儿童沟通和语言发展的同行评审文献。
使用PRISMA指南以及主要和次要检索短语，完成了对文献（2003 - 2013年）的系统检索。根据近期证据的力度对9篇出版物进行了评审。采用主题分析法描述VI儿童的早期语言和沟通特征。
所有选定文章（n = 9）均来自发达国家，7项研究的参与者患有先天性VI。其中5项研究的证据水平评级为III级，4篇文章评级为IIb级。研究中出现了两个主要主题：早期干预以及多重残疾和ASD。语言和沟通发展受到VI的影响，尤其是在发育早期。因此，言语治疗师应纳入VI儿童的早期干预中。
目前存在关于VI儿童早期语言和沟通困难的近期证据，但发展中国家患有后天性VI的儿童似乎未被研究。所确定的语言和沟通发展特征可能有助于言语治疗师建立知识库，以便参与对VI幼儿及其家庭的早期干预。
