Deafblindness
A person who's deafblind won't usually be totally deaf and totally blind, but both senses will bereduced enough to cause difficulties with everyday activities.
The hearing and/or vision problems may be present from birth,but in many cases one or both problems develop gradually as a person gets older andtheymay not notice it themselves at first.
If someone you know has a combination of the signs mentioned below, it's possible they have some degree of deafblindness and should seek medical advice.
Hearing impairment can occur from birth ormay develop gradually or suddenly later on.
Signsthat someone may havea problem with theirhearinginclude:
If someone already has a hearing problem for example, they wear a hearing aid or use sign language keep an eye out for signs of vision problems that could develop (see below).
Vision loss can also be present from birth or develop later on.
Signsthat someone may havea problem with their visioninclude:
If a person alreadyhasa problemwith their vision for example, they wear glasses, use a caneto get around,or havea condition such as glaucoma or cataracts keep an eye out for signs of hearing problems that could develop (see above).
Visit your GP if you noticeany deterioration in your hearing or eyesight.
If you're worried about a friend or family member's vision and hearing, encourage them to speak to their GP.
It's best to seek advice as soon as possible, as treatment for some underlying causes of deafblindness can be more effective if started early.
Early diagnosis will also ensure the person is able to access local support services sooner, and enable them to plan for the future (such as learning new communication methods).
and managing deafblindness .
Read about deafblindness, a condition in which a person has a combination of sight and hearing difficulties that affect their everyday activities.
Find out about the signs that could suggest someone is deafblind, or that they may be gradually losing their sight or hearing.
Read about the main causes of deafblindness, including problems that can be present from birth and those that can develop later on.
Read about how deafblindness is diagnosed, including about the specialist assessment that should be carried out to determine the type of care a deafblind person needs.
Read about the treatment and support available for deafblind people, including alternative communication methods and vision aids.