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Please post your take on this one. It will surely help me with my youngest son. Thanks.
How would you explain the color to a human who was born blind?
- Thread starter Khrystelle
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Color blind people differentiate color by contrast. They can not perceive color. Maybe you can explain to your son that colors have different levels of intensity?
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This is a fascinating subject. I was doing some research and was extremely surprised to find so little literature on the topic. Are you trying to explain the difference between them, say yellow versus green, or just why things are one color or another (which is purely physical)?
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A person born blind can't differentiate between any visual concepts. I don't see how anyone could explain any colors to a completely blind person if they've never seen any colors.
If your question is actually asking how to describe missing colors to a color-blind person, it seems that it would be best done by showing them two colors of the same contrast that they CAN discern between. If they can see other colors, I'd imagine it to be an easier task.
Describing it can only do so much. I don't think a colorblind person will really understand what the missing colors look like.
If a fully color sufficient person wanted to know what it's like to be colorblind, I would simply say that they don't have to imagine. Humans already have a limited perception of light. We can't see ultraviolet or infrared light and are, in a sense, "colorblind" if you expand the determined "visible light" spectrum from red to violet. They are all electromagnetic waves and only differ in frequency. I do wonder quite often what it would be like to see ultraviolet the way bees and other insects do. I can't even begin to imagine what it would look like. In the way that I don't feel that visually perceived spectrum of colors are limited by Mr. Roy G Biv, I don't think a colorblind person would be able to comprehend either.
If your question is actually asking how to describe missing colors to a color-blind person, it seems that it would be best done by showing them two colors of the same contrast that they CAN discern between. If they can see other colors, I'd imagine it to be an easier task.
Describing it can only do so much. I don't think a colorblind person will really understand what the missing colors look like.
If a fully color sufficient person wanted to know what it's like to be colorblind, I would simply say that they don't have to imagine. Humans already have a limited perception of light. We can't see ultraviolet or infrared light and are, in a sense, "colorblind" if you expand the determined "visible light" spectrum from red to violet. They are all electromagnetic waves and only differ in frequency. I do wonder quite often what it would be like to see ultraviolet the way bees and other insects do. I can't even begin to imagine what it would look like. In the way that I don't feel that visually perceived spectrum of colors are limited by Mr. Roy G Biv, I don't think a colorblind person would be able to comprehend either.
depending on the reason for your sons blindness, you might consider "afterimages" as a limited example of colors. Its a stretch but if you can excite the retina with a slitlamp slit, an afterimage will fade away with a number of colors (green, purple). You should only do this if you know how to use a slitlamp (ie dont blast your kids eye with a flashlight etc). On a side note, I wonder if anybody has heard of color anomalous people seeing different colors then usual when experiencing an afterimage?
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After images sounds like a good idea if your son has light perception.
What about asking a "Helen Keller" type of organization. I am sure they answer questions like these all the time.
What about asking a "Helen Keller" type of organization. I am sure they answer questions like these all the time.
It's interesting how this discussion has progressed. I'm not really surprised no one has gone in another direction though, considering the focus of the folks on the forum.
The young boy likely has other senses that can be used as an adequate analogy. The difference between a red toy car and a blue toy car are similar to the difference between the taste of eating cherries vs. broccoli. Or caramel popcorn vs. a sour apple.
A song can be recognized whether it is played by an electric guitar or an acoustic. Or even when played as a drum or violin solo.
It may be necessary to use analogies that the child can relate to rather than trying to make him understand that which he may never know.
The young boy likely has other senses that can be used as an adequate analogy. The difference between a red toy car and a blue toy car are similar to the difference between the taste of eating cherries vs. broccoli. Or caramel popcorn vs. a sour apple.
A song can be recognized whether it is played by an electric guitar or an acoustic. Or even when played as a drum or violin solo.
It may be necessary to use analogies that the child can relate to rather than trying to make him understand that which he may never know.
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But if he was born blind, how does he know what is a "color" ?
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Thank you for responding guys.
My son is totally blind and cant see anything. I was just surprised one day after he came home from school and asked me what is colour? And he mentioned specifically "red". He said he heard them from sighted friends at school and that colours are pretty and so on. He was very inquisitive and very curious to know all about it.
Do I just content myself in telling him its difficult to explain? or do just like Sydney suggested... to use analogies and substitution to nurture his sense of curiosity? Will I be successful? or my attempt will just turn out futile?
I need more input please. Thanks.
My son is totally blind and cant see anything. I was just surprised one day after he came home from school and asked me what is colour? And he mentioned specifically "red". He said he heard them from sighted friends at school and that colours are pretty and so on. He was very inquisitive and very curious to know all about it.
Do I just content myself in telling him its difficult to explain? or do just like Sydney suggested... to use analogies and substitution to nurture his sense of curiosity? Will I be successful? or my attempt will just turn out futile?
I need more input please. Thanks.
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Maybe just memorizing the colors in association to the objects may work as a starting point until he grows a little older. Sounds like a concrete approch, but kids ask concrete questions until they develop more sophisticated thoughts when they get to the 10-11 yr old range. For now just memorizing ... apples = red, .... popcorn = yellow... banana=yellow.... grass = green .... may be a good start. In the mean time it gives you more time to investigate other ways to communicate a good answer to that question.
Sounds like your child is in a school with sighted children... You should really consider having him socialize with other blind children (and you socialize with other parents of blind children, they will know all the tough questions that will come your way)... Join a club or a school with these criteria. He should learn braile as soon as possible. and a school for sighted children isn't going to do that.
Sounds like your child is in a school with sighted children... You should really consider having him socialize with other blind children (and you socialize with other parents of blind children, they will know all the tough questions that will come your way)... Join a club or a school with these criteria. He should learn braile as soon as possible. and a school for sighted children isn't going to do that.
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Please keep us updated on how things go with explanations and any other input you have. It is really interesting to me! Thanks and good luck
The main character heats up rocks so the blind girl can feel them change from "red" to "pink". He also gives her a cold rock to show the difference between "blue" and "green".
Please check it out - not only is it a great movie, but I think it might be helpful to you.
Please check it out - not only is it a great movie, but I think it might be helpful to you.
Black and white are still colors, although primitive. It would seem like the best place to start. Nighttime is "black", when nobody else can see either (not entirely true, but you get the message), and daytime is "white" or "light". Contrast is a common element behind low vision improvement, and I think truly blind individuals can benefit from contrast enhancement as well (via space age retinocortex implants). Anyway, its a starting point. By the way, maybe you could share the exact reason/diagnosis for your sons blindness, it would help.
