Tool for blind children improves development and mental health issues

An early intervention programme has been shown to be effective in helping babies and young children with severe visual impairment reach developmental milestones and experience fewer mental health issues.

Led by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the UCL Great Ormond Institute of Child Health (ICH), the study revealed improvements for babies and young children whose community healthcare teams used the Developmental Journal for babies and young children with visual impairment (DJVI).

DJVI is a set of developmental monitoring and interventionist guidance materials designed by GOSH consultants in 2005. They have been designed to be used through a partnership of local practitioners and parents to help children through everyday interactions and tasks at home.