Objectives: A
dual sensory loss affects communicative situations and everyday functioning and
increases the risk of social isolation. The purpose of the present study was to
describe experiences of disabilities and factors affecting daily life from the
perspective of adult persons with severe-to-profound hearing impairment in
combination with severe vision impairment. Furthermore, the study also
investigated which kind of support individuals with dual sensory loss received,
and their experiences as citizens in the society.
Methods: The
recruitment of patients with dual sensory loss was performed from 2018 to 2019
in consecutive patients at Karolinska University Hospital and at Sabbatsbergs
Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The inclusion criteria were severe-to-profound
hearing loss at 61 dB HL or more in the best ear in combination with severe
vision impairment. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a
semi-structured interview guide. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were
performed, analyzed, and categorized using content analysis.
Results: Fourteen
interviews were performed, with an equal number of participants from both
sexes. Mean age of the participants was 70.1 years (47–81 years). Analysis of
the data resulted in 22 categories, six sub-themes and two main themes.
Examples of some of the 22 categories that were identified: Different kind of Networks, Combination’s effects,
Possibilities and Limitations, Technical tools, Companion service, and
Strategies. Two main themes emerged as Isolation and The Ability to control
one’s own daily life. Surprisingly, most of the participants did not think of
their vision and hearing impairment as a combined disability. The interviews
showed various kinds of strategies to handle daily life. The Deaf-blind–team
unit was reported to offer excellent health care. Companion services for
persons with disabilities proved to have become more difficult to get support
from and created a lack of independence and control over their own lives.
However, it was also obvious that the participants felt a positive outlook on
life and were more solution-oriented in order to adjust their everyday life to
their life-situation.
Conclusions: The
combination of vision and hearing impairment demonstrated isolation, and the
respondents in the study have a need for support in everyday life. At the same
time, they struggle to have the ability to control their own lives. The study
recommended that an individual with a combined hearing and vision impairment
should immediately alert health care as these patients belong to an extremely
vulnerable group. In the future, community-organized companion services should
be investigated and reviewed to meet the needs of this patient group.
Author(s)details:-
Satu Turunen-Taheri
Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of CLINTEC,
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Audiology and
Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden and Division of
Audiology, Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Flemmingsberg, Sweden.
Annica Hagerman
Sirelius
Division of Audiology, Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet,
Flemmingsberg, Sweden.
Sten Hellström
Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of CLINTEC,
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden and Department of Audiology and
Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Åsa Skjönsberg
Department of Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital,
Stockholm, Sweden and Division of Audiology, Department of CLINTEC, Karolinska
Institutet, Flemmingsberg, Sweden.
Gunnel Backenroth
Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Please See the book
here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/acmms/v5/2855
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