DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH-CURVES OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS

In this study, we used growth curve analysis based on 566 assessments with the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI) to describe the develo pment of 186 children (ages 12-73 months) with vision impairments. Dev elopmental patterns varied markedly among the children, with part of t hat variability related to co-occurring disabilities and amount of fun ctional vision. Children with co-occurring disabilities-in this case, mental retardation or developmental delay (MR/DD)-had lower developmen tal age scores overall and slower rates of growth. Visual function of 20/800 or worse was associated with significantly lower developmental ages across time on all domains measured by the BDI (personal-social, adaptive, motor, cognition, and communication) and with slower rates o f growth in the personal-social and motor domains. Amount of functiona l vision and MR/DD did not interact, indicating that these 2 factors h ad additive, not multiplicative, effects on development during early c hildhood.