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Directions: Answer following questions in paragraph form (4-6 complete sentences), citing specific examples from your book for support. Answers can either be typed and attached to this sheet, or written legibly. Answers which cannot be read will be counted incorrect. This sheet is worth 10 points.

This exercise takes a creative look at how early experiences in one domain of development might affect development in other domains as well. In an extensive study (Vernon-Feagens & Manlove, 1996), children with chronic middle ear fluid were more likely to play alone and less likely to talk with their peers than control children did. Animal studies also provide evidence that early sensory experiences can have a dramatic, and sometimes irreversible, effect on developing neural connections in the brain.

In this exercise, you are asked to imagine that you are advising parents who are considering whether to have their toddler (1.5 years) Samantha’s vision disorder corrected. Samantha’s disorder, which can be completely corrected only through surgery, involves an uneven curvature of the lens of each eyeball. Unless the problem is corrected through surgery, which can be performed at a later date, Samantha’s vision will be slightly out of focus in both eyes, even if she wears corrective lenses (glasses or contacts).

Samantha’s parents, who are understandably worried about the dangers of performing any operation on so young a child, have several questions. To stretch your creative thinking skills, see if you can answer their questions.

1. Is there any evidence that our child’s vision problem should be corrected sooner rather than later? Why not wait until Samantha is older to correct the problem?

2. If we choose not to have the surgery performed now, will Samantha’s physical development lag behind that of other children?

3. What about Samantha’s cognitive and social development? Could her visual problem affect these areas of her life?

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