Deafblindness - Diagnosing hearing and vision problems

A deafblind person's level of hearing and sight should be accurately and regularly assessed.

How well a person can hear and see will affect the level of care and support they need.

Deafblindness can have a significant impact on a person's ability to live independently. For example:

the ability to make choices and take control of their life
health and safety
managing the daily routines of their personal and domestic life
involvement in education, work, family, social and community activities

Specialist assessment

As soon as deafblindness has been identified, a specialist assessment should be arranged by the local authority.

The assessment should be carried out by a specially trained professional who is able to identify the deafblind person's needs. During the assessment, the following criteria will be taken into consideration:

communication
one-to-one human contact
social interaction
emotional wellbeing
support with mobility
assistive technology
rehabilitation

The assessment will also take into account the person's current needs and those that will develop in the future. For example, it will be easier for a person who is deafblind to learn alternative forms of communication before their condition deteriorates.

It's important that the deterioration of one or both senses is identified at an early stage so that appropriate action can be taken. This is particularly important in the case of children.

A deafblind person should have access to services suitable to their level of hearing and sight and their individual needs. Mainstream services aimed mainly at blind or deaf people may not be appropriate for someone with a dual sensory impairment.