How to communicate with a visually impaired child

Communication, and being able to express yourself in conversation, is an important area of development for all children. Those with a visual impairment may need a little extra support but they’re just as capable.

All children are natural communicators from the moment they make a face, smile and utter their first cry. Children with sight loss may need extra support to develop communication and learn about cues to support them in this.

It’s never too early to begin exploring ways to support your child’s development of communication.

Communication is not just about learning to talk. There are nonverbal, physical means, such as body language and touch. How you communicate with a visually impaired child will also help their development. In this blog, we share some tips for communication which will help your child understand different communication styles.

Communication Tips

In order to allow a child with a visual impairment to understand and communicate appropriately, think about the following:

1. Introduce yourself. Make sure the child knows you’re there. If the child does not recognise your voice, tell them who you are.
2. Use the child’s name when introducing yourself. This will reassure the child that you are speaking to them.
3. Tell the child when you are leaving. This will allow the child to keep track of who is in the room. It will also mean the child is not wondering where you are if they want to speak to you.
4. Gently Touch for attention if necessary. This could be a gentle pat on the shoulder or arm. This will allow the child to understand without verbal language when it is appropriate to join in.
5. Speak clearly. Some children with a visual impairment may not see body language and facial expressions to help them to understand a situation. However, don’t adjust your pace or speak in an exaggerated manner.
6. Give verbal warnings. Inform the child before an event as they may not pick up on visual cues, ie,tidy up time, parents arriving etc.
7. Offer clear descriptions. This could be an unfamiliar room, food on a plate, a new toy etc.
8. Explaining situations. By explaining the surroundings and events taking place, it allows the child to have a better understanding of the subject, i.e. a group of chatty children, noisy machinery in the road etc.
9. Let your child initiate conversation. Giving options is important so they get to choose and think. If they initiate something, for example, reaching out for an object, praise them and talk about it. This will encourage them to be active in their discovery.

The wider the range of communication options your child is able to use, the more likely they will be to find systems that allow them to share their thoughts with others.