Disorientation and loss of wayfinding in individuals with congenital blindness and other affecting comorbidities

Abstract

Orientation and navigation skills are considered as crucial prerequisites for efficient wayfinding in the surrounding environment and in community both for sighted and blind individuals of all ages. In case of partial or total loss of vision, navigation and wayfinding become more challenging. The acquisition of proficient orientation and navigation by visually deprived individuals is possible when accurate guidance and training are available, and the central nervous system is intact. In cases of head trauma, neurological lesions (specifically, right hemispheric lesions), or genetic factors, the acquisition of orientation and navigation becomes a disturbed process. In some severe cases, the individuals become, literally, “space-less.” This profound disorientation leads to inefficient functional outcomes, especially when the environment is unfamiliar. These spatially disoriented individuals with loss of independence in both indoor and outdoor wayfinding skills need a long-term, persistent individual guidance by caregivers to prevent risks, a reality that limits daily functions and participation in life roles. Alternative and differential strategies for individual training methods of teaching orientation and navigation are needed. This article discusses this issue on the basis of the theoretical level and proposes practical methods and strategies for enhancing the very initial foundations of orientation and navigation for this specific “space-less” group. Functional impacts and practical implications are further discussed.