UIUC RST 230 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Legally blind - Answers :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 of 20
degrees
Visually Impaired/Partially Sighted - Answers :A serious loss of vision that cannot be
corrected by medical or surgical procedures or with conventional eyeglasses.
Levels of Visual Impairment: Acuity - Answers :describes the amount of detail an
individual sees compared to what a person with normal vision sees
-measured in terms of the 20/20 method
Levels of Visual Impairment: Visual Field - Answers :includes the entire area that can be
seen at one time with the fixed eye. The normal field of vision is 170 degrees
Tunnel Vision - Answers :can only see straight; loss of peripheral vision
Peripheral Vision - Answers :can see peripheral (sides) but can't see straight ahead
Ocular dominance - Answers :tendency to prefer visual input from one eye or the other
-The Miles Test
Cataracts - Answers :lens becomes milky or cloudy & the cloudiness distorts rays of
light & 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
Causes: Lack of oxygen -- disturbance in the nutrition of the lens, external forces, e.g.,
electrical shock, wounds or x-rays
Glaucoma - Answers :caused by the increased pressure within the eyeball. A liquid
builds up & increases pressure within the eye -- increased pressure can damage the
optic nerve
Symptoms: Loss of peripheral vision, sensitivity to light/glare, problems with night vision,
blurred vision
Diabetic Retinopathy - Answers :diabetes causes changes in blood vessels in the retina
that cause hemorrhaging. One of the most common causes of visual
impairments/blindness in the U.S.
Symptoms: spots floating in the visual field, blurred vision, poor night vision, vision loss
Major Causes of Visual Impairments in General - Answers :aging (#1), congenital (born
w/ it), disease (ex. diabetes), accidents (flying metal/wood #1 cause), stupidity
, Sighted guide technique - Answers :-A blind person's right hand will grip your left elbow.
-Keep your arm close to your body.
-Blind person will travel half-step behind you.
-Keep the person aware of conditions or changes in the surroundings. Mention curbs,
steps, doorways, etc.
-When guiding a person who is blind to seat, simply place her hand on the back of the
chair and let her seat herself.
Hearing impairment - Answers :term used to describe all types of hearing loss, ranging
from very mild to profound deafness
Deafness - Answers :state occurring when a person is unable to understand speech
through the ear alone, either with or without a hearing aid
Hard-of-hearing - Answers :people who have mild to moderate hearing loss resulting in
decreased perception of conversational speech, but sufficient hearing to permit
understanding under optimal circumstances
Pre-lingual hearing loss - Answers :occurs before speech develops
-born w/ hearing loss or acquire hearing loss
Post-lingual - Answers :happens after someone learns to speak
Conductive hearing loss causes - Answers :ear canal most damaged, puncture to the
eardrum, otosclerosis (calcification & softening of 3 little bones in the ear)
sensorineural hearing loss - Answers :happens in the inner ear, the most common form
of hearing loss, also called nerve deafness; caused by damage to the cochlea's
receptor cells or to the auditory nerves
Central hearing loss - Answers :accidents, tumors,
happens in the hearing portions of the brain, the pathways to the brain of the brain itself
are damaged
Communication with people with hearing impairments - Answers :-get their attention
-speak clearly and distinctly at a normal rate and volume
-be expressive
-prevent distractions
-position yourself
Working with a sign language interpreter - Answers :-Look and speak directly to the
person
-Speak in first person
-make sure the person with hearing impairment can see
-the speaker and interpreter
-speak normally
Legally blind - Answers :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 of 20
degrees
Visually Impaired/Partially Sighted - Answers :A serious loss of vision that cannot be
corrected by medical or surgical procedures or with conventional eyeglasses.
Levels of Visual Impairment: Acuity - Answers :describes the amount of detail an
individual sees compared to what a person with normal vision sees
-measured in terms of the 20/20 method
Levels of Visual Impairment: Visual Field - Answers :includes the entire area that can be
seen at one time with the fixed eye. The normal field of vision is 170 degrees
Tunnel Vision - Answers :can only see straight; loss of peripheral vision
Peripheral Vision - Answers :can see peripheral (sides) but can't see straight ahead
Ocular dominance - Answers :tendency to prefer visual input from one eye or the other
-The Miles Test
Cataracts - Answers :lens becomes milky or cloudy & the cloudiness distorts rays of
light & 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
Causes: Lack of oxygen -- disturbance in the nutrition of the lens, external forces, e.g.,
electrical shock, wounds or x-rays
Glaucoma - Answers :caused by the increased pressure within the eyeball. A liquid
builds up & increases pressure within the eye -- increased pressure can damage the
optic nerve
Symptoms: Loss of peripheral vision, sensitivity to light/glare, problems with night vision,
blurred vision
Diabetic Retinopathy - Answers :diabetes causes changes in blood vessels in the retina
that cause hemorrhaging. One of the most common causes of visual
impairments/blindness in the U.S.
Symptoms: spots floating in the visual field, blurred vision, poor night vision, vision loss
Major Causes of Visual Impairments in General - Answers :aging (#1), congenital (born
w/ it), disease (ex. diabetes), accidents (flying metal/wood #1 cause), stupidity
, Sighted guide technique - Answers :-A blind person's right hand will grip your left elbow.
-Keep your arm close to your body.
-Blind person will travel half-step behind you.
-Keep the person aware of conditions or changes in the surroundings. Mention curbs,
steps, doorways, etc.
-When guiding a person who is blind to seat, simply place her hand on the back of the
chair and let her seat herself.
Hearing impairment - Answers :term used to describe all types of hearing loss, ranging
from very mild to profound deafness
Deafness - Answers :state occurring when a person is unable to understand speech
through the ear alone, either with or without a hearing aid
Hard-of-hearing - Answers :people who have mild to moderate hearing loss resulting in
decreased perception of conversational speech, but sufficient hearing to permit
understanding under optimal circumstances
Pre-lingual hearing loss - Answers :occurs before speech develops
-born w/ hearing loss or acquire hearing loss
Post-lingual - Answers :happens after someone learns to speak
Conductive hearing loss causes - Answers :ear canal most damaged, puncture to the
eardrum, otosclerosis (calcification & softening of 3 little bones in the ear)
sensorineural hearing loss - Answers :happens in the inner ear, the most common form
of hearing loss, also called nerve deafness; caused by damage to the cochlea's
receptor cells or to the auditory nerves
Central hearing loss - Answers :accidents, tumors,
happens in the hearing portions of the brain, the pathways to the brain of the brain itself
are damaged
Communication with people with hearing impairments - Answers :-get their attention
-speak clearly and distinctly at a normal rate and volume
-be expressive
-prevent distractions
-position yourself
Working with a sign language interpreter - Answers :-Look and speak directly to the
person
-Speak in first person
-make sure the person with hearing impairment can see
-the speaker and interpreter
-speak normally
