Strategies for Solving Tasks by Blind : Characteristics of Mental Images, thus Strategies for Handling Tasks by Blind Adults

Abstract

The thesis is based on a research, which was held in Georgia in the autumn 2010. The research question is: what characterizes mental images, thus strategies for handling ADL by blind adults? The thesis discusses various strategies used by blind adults to solve daily tasks. The study’s main focuses are morning routine and personal hygiene. Three groups of blind adults and their use of mental images, thus strategies for solving daily tasks are compared to one another. The results show, that congenitally blind persons use haptic mental imagery and their strategies are based on the haptic images. Whereas, newly blind persons use visual images and combine them with spatial images. However, adventitiously blind persons seem to be dealing with daily tasks by using both, haptic and spatial images in addition to the visual remembrance of objects and environment. Moreover, ones having had training in particular activities have better strategies for solving activities of daily living, than those without any training. Generally, all of the groups the most efficiently solve tasks, which naturally require touch. For example, describing texture of clothing and making bed. In contrast, shaving face, combing hair or brushing teeth seems more difficult for several of the participants, as one uses a mediator in such activities, e.g. hand does not necessarily touch face, hair or tooth paste in these activities. Hence, such tasks do not provide basis for having good haptic strategies for solving them. However, congenitally blind persons do not face such challenges, as they have been used to relying on touch since childhood. Similarly, adventitiously blind_ trained or haptically precued persons find strategies for handling activities of daily living. The study further shows, that passage of years does not necessarily help late blind persons to adapt to blindness and acquire new skills for solving tasks, but the training does