The aim of this study was to investigate the mother-infant with visual impairment interaction, by means of maternal speech styles, nonverbal behaviors and interactive episodes of mother and child. Three dyads participated in the study, and the visually impaired babies were aged from six to thirteen months. A video camera was used to capture the interactions between dyads in a free-play situation. For each dyad, three filming sessions were held, each lasting twenty minutes. The results suggested that interactions between mothers and visually impaired babies mainly takes place through the coordination of speech with the gestural action, in which touch and body language are used in order to facilitate communication. Studies that investigate the interaction of mothers of children with atypical development are relevant, because they answer theoretical questions about development and make it possible to structure interventional strategies.
Communication; Visualy impairment persons; Mother child relations