Study reveals challenges in judging auditory distances for individuals with early-onset vision loss.
- People who experience partial vision loss in early childhood have more difficulty accurately judging the location of sound compared to those who lose sight later in life.
- A study involving 52 participants under 33 years old found differences in sound distance judgments between those with early-onset vision loss, late-onset vision loss, and a fully-sighted control group.
- People with early-onset vision loss tended to perceive sounds played from close distances as coming from further away, particularly up to five meters.
- The study suggests that difficulty in judging short and medium distance sounds could have safety implications, such as crossing the road, for individuals with early-onset vision loss.
- Even partial vision loss can lead to changes in hearing abilities, especially if vision is lost early in life, according to the research co-authored by academics from various institutions.
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Ophthalmology, Neurology