Effect of the Braille method on the psychological health of blind people

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the association between the Braille learning method and the psychology of blind children. Cases and Methods: The study was conducted at Um Alrabeaen Institution for blind and purblind people in June to July 2022. The depression scale was applied during a semi-structured interview with parents of blind children using the modified Hamilton scale, which consisted of eight items (sadness, laziness, suicide, psychological anxiety, other anxiety features, insomnia, confusion, and general body symptoms) using a three-Likert scale. The total sample size was 24, eight children as cases and 16 as controls. The inclusion criterion was blind children aged 8–13 years attending braille courses. The exclusion criterion was mentally retarded children. Results: This study showed that 16 (66.7%) of the blind children complained of depression, feelings of helplessness, inability, listlessness, loss of interest and slow thinking, trouble sleeping, interrupted sleep, and physical anxiety, although these symptoms were more prevalent among the control group but not statistically significant. Depression was observed more frequently in males than in females ( p = 0.003). Blind children suffering from trouble sleeping and interrupted sleep were commonly observed among the control group (14, 87.5%) with no difference between males and females. Depression and feelings of helplessness, inability, listlessness, loss of interest, and slow thinking were observed in 12 (75.0%) blind children. The least reported symptom was the child waking up earlier than usual and not being able to sleep again (10, 6.25%), with no difference between males and females. Conclusion: Braille courses for blind children had a positive effect on their psychological aspects.