Possible implications of a VP shunt surgery on a blind child's academic and spatial-perceptual skills

Abstract

Abstract Children with visual-impairments confront various challenging experiences in life since early childhood throughout lifespan. In some cases, blind infants, especially due to prematurity, may suffer from intra-cranial pressure and, consequently, go through a shunt surgery in order to prevent or decrease the opportunities for neurological impairments. In this article, a detailed description of numerous crucial implications of the V/P shunt surgery, through the right posterior-inferior parieto-temporal cortex, on the observed preliminary capabilities that are pre-requisites for the acquisition of literacy skills in braille, basic Math competencies, braille printing and orientation and mobility skills using the Cane. In addition, significant difficulties in general organizational skills and social orientation were observed. The primary conclusion of this report focuses on raising awareness among neuro-surgeons towards the need for alternative intracranial routes for V/P shunt implantation in blind infants that preserve the right posterior-inferior parieto-temporal cortex that is hypothesized to modulate the tactual-spatial cues in braille discrimination. A second conclusion targets educators and therapists that address the acquired dysfunctions in blind individuals due to V/P shunt surgeries.