Dual sensory disabilities (deafblind)
the definition
Deafness and vision loss is a rare condition in which an individual combines hearing and vision loss, which limits access to audio-visual information.
the date
History of teaching dual sensory disabilities:
(1789-1832): Victorine Morisseau is the first deaf-blind woman to receive education in the United States of America.
(1900-1950): A few schools were established to educate deaf-blind people in Europe.
(1962-1964): The spread of German measles led to the birth of thousands of people with double sensory impairment, most of whom suffered from intellectual and physical disabilities. At that time, there were Lack of facilities and manpower to meet the needs of these children, As a result, many schools for the deaf and blind were started throughout Europe and America.
In the 1970s a group of regional centers for children with dual sensory disabilities were established and developed.
the reasons
The most common causes of deafness and blindness in children and young adults in the United States are:
1- Complications of prematurity
2- Genetic syndromes and disorders such as: (CHARG syndrome, Usher syndrome, Down’s syndrome)
3- Prenatal complications such as: (cytomegalovirus, hydrocephalus, microcephaly).
4- Postpartum complications such as: (suffocation, severe head injury, meningitis)
Symptoms
The National Center for the Deaf and Blind notes that the main characteristic of deafness and vision loss is “the inability of those affected to access audio-visual information, which limits and hinders the individual from learning and developing.”
treatment
There is no cure for deafness and vision loss, but they can be helped in several different ways by using them to communicate, such as:
1- Sign language (adapted to suit their visual field).
2- Sensory sign language and tracking.
3- Fingers spelling.
4- Printing on the palm of the hand.
Communication methods also differ from person to person depending on the causes of visual and hearing impairment. and their backgrounds, And teach them.
Deafblind people use many types of technology and equipment in their daily lives, such as: mobility sticks, Closed circuit television (CCTV), Braille, TTYs and TTY.