AUTHOR=Provenzi Livio , Pettenati Giada , Luparia Antonella , Paini Daria , Aprile Giorgia , Morelli Federica , Mascherpa Eleonora , Vercellino Luisa , Grumi Serena , Signorini Sabrina 

TITLE=Case report: Dancing in the dark: A critical single case study engaging a blind father in the rehabilitation journey of his visually impaired child

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.942321

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.942321

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Face-to-face visual contact is a key component of the early parent-child interaction, therefore a visual impairment condition of the parent or the child represents a risk factor for dyadic patterns' development.</p></sec><sec><title>Aims</title><p>The study presents a critical single case of a blind father and a 18-month-old visually impaired child. The study aims to explore changes in the relational functioning of this dyad during an early family-centered intervention.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods and procedures</title><p>Ten parent-child sessions were videotaped and micro-analytically coded. Data were analyzed through a State Space Grid crossing child's social cues and types of father verbalizations.</p></sec><sec><title>Outcomes and results</title><p>Findings showed a stable increase in the amount of child social cues over time. Moreover, the dyad exhibited progressive changes in dyadic regulation, stability, and organization. The return time to the “<italic>active interaction</italic>” region of interest decreased progressively. A reduction was observed also for the time spent by the dyad in the region “<italic>no vocal contact</italic>.”</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions and implications</title><p>This critical single case highlighted the benefits of parental engagement in early interventions for the dyadic regulation in parent-child interaction.</p></sec>