The ability to locate stationary or moving objects in space depends on visual function. It is thought that for blind individuals, the remaining sensory modalities, in particular hearing, will compensate for the absence of vision in spatial localization. This study aimed to analyze the role of hearing on the spatial localization mechanism by looking at the ability to accurately direct the head to the source of sound. Five congenitally blind adults were compared to five sighted people who wore blindfolds. The task consisted of turning the head toward the sound stimulus, coming from seven different fixed point sources. The three dimensional position of the head and trunk was registered by an electromagnetic scanning device (Flock of Birds System). The "error of localization" was calculated for each sound produced. This measurement corresponded to the difference between the recorded positions during the test and the control position. The results revealed that in congenitally blinded individuals the magnitude of the "error of localization" was greater than in sighted individuals. The conclusion was that mental representations formed based on vision constitutes one of the prerequisites to good performance on spatial tasks.
sound perception; blindness; hearing; special education