QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | ALREADY PASSED!!
What is the difference between legally blind and visually impaired/partially
sighted people? Answer - Legally blind = if his/her vision in the better eye,
even with glasses or contact lenses, is no better than 20/200 or if his/her visual
field has a maximum diameter is 20 degrees.
- 20/40: you can see at 20ft what a person with normal eyesight can see at
40ft.
Visually impaired/partially sighted = a serious loss of vision that cannot be
corrected by medical or surgical procedures with conventional eyeglasses.
Levels of visual impairment: acuity and visual field Answer - Acuity = describes
the amount of detail an individual sees compared to what a person with
normal vision sees.
Visual field = includes the entire area that can't be seen at one time with the
fixed eye.
- Tunnel vision: can only see straight ahead, can't see any peripheral vision
(visual field is very small).
Ocular dominance; the Miles test Answer - Ocular dominance = tendency to
prefer visual input from one eye to another
,Miles test = right eye vs. left eye dominant.
Tunnel vision and peripheral vision Answer - Tunnel vision = can see straight-
ahead, but cannot see the periphery (peripheral vision)
Peripheral vision = can see the periphery, but cannot see straight-ahead.
What are the symptoms and causes of major types of visual impairments:
cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy? Answer - Cataracts: lens
becomes milky or cloudy and this cloudiness distorts rays of light and prevents
light from being focused on the retina.
- Primary cause of blindness among older adults.
- Symptoms = blurred vision, double vision, poor night vision, need for bright
lights when reading, struggle with driving at night
- Causes = lack of oxygen -> disturbance in the nutrition of the lens, external
forces (electric shock, wounds, or X-ray).
Glaucoma: caused by the increased pressure within the eyeball.
- Liquid builds up and increases pressure within the eye. Such increased
pressure can damage the optic nerve (impossible to repair).
- Symptoms = loss of peripheral vision, sensitivity to light and glare, problems
with nigh vision, blurred vision
Diabetic Retinopathy: diabetes causes changes in the blood vessels in the
retina cause hemorrhaging.
- One of the most common causes of visual impairments and blindness in the
US.
- Symptoms = spots floating in the visual field, vision loss, blurred vision, poor
night vision
, What are the major causes of visual impairments (in general)? Answer - 1.
Aging
2. Congenital (can be born w/ visual impairment - pregnant mother could have
disease/infection)
3. Disease (one of the main causes of blindness)
4. Accidents (pieces of metal or wood, sports injuries)
Sighted guide technique Answer - - A blind person's right hand will grip your
left elbow
-> Left-handed person holds onto your right arm
-> Taller person holds onto your arm & shorter person holds onto your wrists
or fingers
- Keep your arm close to your body
- Keep the person aware of conditions or changes in surroundings - mention
curbs, steps, doorways, etc.
- When guiding a person who is blind to seat, simply place his/her hand on the
back of the chair and let him/her seat themselves.
What is the difference between hearing impairment, deafness, and being hard-
of-hearing? Answer - Hearing impairments = general term to describe all types
of hearing loss, ranging from very mild to profound deafness
Deafness = state of occurring when a person is unable to understand speech
through the ear alone, either with or w/o a hearing aid.
Hard-of-hearing = ppl who have mild to moderate hearing loss resulting in
decreased perception of conversational speech, but sufficient hearing to
permit understanding under optimal circumstances.