Vision Loss Combined with Hearing Loss

 Resources for Seniors

The loss of both sight and hearing can have a devastating impact on a senior’s independence, communication abilities, and self-esteem. This section addresses the needs of adults experiencing with combined visual and hearing impairments, their families, and caregivers.

Below is a list of topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic.

Combined Vision and Hearing Loss in Seniors: Introduction

The Challenge to Independence: Severe Vision and Hearing Loss Among Older Adults, American Rehabilitation
An authority in the field explores the need for planning, support systems, and program development for older adults with hearing and vision loss.

Deaf-blindness in Elderly 'Untreated', BBC News
This study shows that doctors often fail to identify dual sensory loss in elderly patients.

Dual Sensory Impairment in Older People, Community Care
An examination of the service needs of people whose dual sensory loss develops after the age of 60, focusing on their vulnerability and isolation.

Elderly and Invisible?, Sense
The social service needs of elderly people who have a combined vision and hearing loss.

More than Half of the Visually Impaired Seniors also have a Hearing Impairment, Videnscentret for Døvblindblevne (Information Center for Acquired Deafblindness)
Ole Mortensen focuses on the demographics and rehabilitation and other special needs of visually impaired seniors who also have an age-related hearing loss.

Deafblindness, Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
This factsheet lists the different categories of deafblindness experienced by older people and some of the challenges they face.

What is Deafblindness?, Sense
An overview of the primary causes of both congenital and acquired deafblindness; includes a section on age-related sensory losses.

Work with Elderly Persons with Acquired Deafblindness in Denmark, Videnscentret for Døvblindblevne (Information Center for Acquired Deafblindness)
Denmark’s Information Center for Acquired Deafblindness experiences in raising awareness about the needs of elderly people with vision and hearing loss.

Combined Vision & Hearing Loss: Organizations & Resources to Explore

A-Z Deafblindness
A range of information on various aspects of deafblindness, for consumers, their families and service providers.

American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB)
AADB is a national consumer organization of, by, and for deafblind Americans and their supporters.

DeafBlindInfo.org
This online information resource offers an introduction to the issues of deafblindness.

Deafblind International (DbI)
DbI brings together professionals, researchers, families, consumers, and administrators all around the world to raise awareness about deafblindness. The site includes articles on service guidelines, education issues, communication, and interpreting.

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC)
HKNC provides support services and residential training to youth and adults who are deafblind, their families, and the professionals who serve them, including Senior Adult Services, aimed at service providers nationwide.

The Information Center for Acquired Deafblindness (Videnscentret for Døvblindblevne)
This Danish organization disseminates information to support professionals who work with people with acquired deafblindness.

National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)
NCDB is a national technical assistance and dissemination center for information about deafblindness. While most resources focus on the needs of children and youth, there is wealth of information in the Adult Services section.

Resources for Working with Deaf-Blind People, The Interpreter’s Friend
Many articles on a wide range of topics, including communication methods, advocacy, and assistive devices.

Sense
Sense offers online publications and resources for people with a dual sensory impairment, their families, caregivers, and the professionals who work with them.

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Advice for Seniors with Combined Vision & Hearing Loss

Practical Self-Help Tips for People with Vision and Hearing Loss, VisionAWARE
Helpful hints and simple adaptations for living at home.

All About Hearing and Hearing Loss, VisionAWARE
Hearing loss later in life and techniques for communicating.

Hearing Loss, American Foundation for the Blind—Senior Site
Advice for older adults with vision and hearing loss who want to be fully engaged participants in the world.

Assistive Devices for Combined Vision & Hearing Loss

Devices for Deafblind Persons, Tiresias.org
Assistive technology devices for communication, radio paging, alarms, and sound indicators.

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Caregivers & Service Providers: Practical Strategies

Fill in the Gaps: A Toolkit for Professionals Working with Older Deafblind People, Sense
Guidelines and advice for staff working with older people; recognizing the signs of dual sensory loss and understanding its impact on the individual’s life.

Fill in the Gaps Checklist, Sense
Identifying older people with sensory loss who need rehabilitation or specialist services; available in PDF or Word format.

Hearing and Sight Loss in Older People, Sense
A factsheet on sight and hearing loss in later life; advice on making the most of the remaining senses.

Living the Good Life: Helping People Recognise the Signs of Deafblindness, Sense
Aimed at friends and relatives of older adults who have a dual sensory impairment; discusses communication, access to information, getting around, maintaining home independence, getting support, and more.

New Strategies and Principles in Working with Elderly People with Acquired Deafblindness, 5th European Seminar of the Acquired Deafblindness Network
In this workshop, Ans Huvenaars focuses on the adaptation of activities for older people with deafblindness, including exploration of new experiences.

Practical Tips Meeting a Deaf-Blind Person, Resource Centre for Manitobans who are Deaf-Blind
Theresa Smith offers guidelines for interacting with someone who has a combined vision and hearing loss.

Seeing Me: Recognising Dual Sensory Loss in Residential or Domiciliary Care, Sense
This toolkit for staff working with older people with dual sensory impairment includes advice on mobility and the environment, best practices, and resources. The checklist helps staff identify people who may have unrecognized sensory loss.

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Interpreters for Seniors with Combined Vision & Hearing Loss

Interpreting for Older People with Acquired Deafblindness, Deafblindness International
An exploration of the barriers to full information access experienced by older people with an acquired dual sensory impairment.

Tips for Interpreters Working with Deaf-Blind Consumers, American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Do’s and don’ts for interpreters working with individuals who have dual sensory impairment.

Occupational Therapy Interventions in Low Vision Rehabilitation
The importance of including occupational therapy as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to vision rehabilitation.

Orientation & Mobility with Combined Vision & Hearing Loss

Getting Across the Street with Visual and Hearing Impairments, Dona Sauerburger
O&M Specialist Dona Sauerburger outlines strategies when encountering an unfamiliar intersection, requesting assistance, and teaching tips for instructors.

How to Guide a Deafblind Person
This 4-page document advises on guiding and interacting with people with deafblindness: approaching them courteously, explaining the environment, communicating, and sighted-guide techniques.

Learning to Travel with Both Hearing and Vision Loss, VisionAWARE
This section of the Special Issue on Orientation and Mobility focuses on communicating with vision and hearing loss, and the use of hearing aids while traveling.

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Research: Combined Vision & Hearing Loss in Seniors

Association Between Vision and Hearing Impairments and Their Combined Effects on Quality of Life, Archives of Ophthalmology
A study of the effect of age-related vision and hearing impairments on health and quality of life.

Basic Services for the Elderly Deafblind: Surveys and Statistics, Deafblind International
Ole Mortensen discusses services needed by older people experiencing vision and hearing loss.

Identification of Deafblind Dual Sensory Impairment in Older People, Social Care Institute for Excellence
Issues relating to the identification of people over the age of 60 in the UK who have combined hearing and sight impairments.

Vision Impairment and Hearing Loss Among Community-Dwelling Older Americans: Implications for Health and Functioning, American Journal of Public Health
An examination of the health, activity, and social participation of elderly people with vision impairment, hearing loss, or both. Also in pdf

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Service Guidelines for Seniors with Combined Vision & Hearing Loss

Deafblind Guidance: A Practical Guide, Sense
This guide for service providers examines many aspects of deafblindness, including identification, assessment, communication, and services.

Guidelines on Best Practice for Service Provision to Deafblind People, Deafblind International (DBI)
Deafblind International outlines the unique needs of people who are deafblind and offers a set of best practice guidelines for providing services. Suitable for government agencies and private service providers; available in English and Spanish.

Guidelines on Best Practice for Service Provision to Deafblind People: Recommendations for Service Planners and Providers, Deafblind International
These recommendations for services planners and providers are a summary of the above document; available in English and Spanish.

Guidelines for People Working with a Person with Dual Sensory Loss, Solihull Care Trust
This 14-page document provides an overview of deafblindness, with information on vision and hearing loss and communication techniques.

Link by Link: A Guide to the Development & Implementation of Services for Persons who are Deafblind and Live in Rural Areas, Center for Sight & Hearing
This 32-page booklet describes a five-year outreach project for people who are deafblind living in rural areas. The authors share service recommendations forged from their experiences.

What Doctors Should Know About Dual Sensory Loss, Lighthouse International
Lighthouse International’s study of the use of hearing aids and assistive devices with elderly people with vision and hearing impairments.

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