What is deafblindness?

Deafblindness is a term used to describe the loss of two senses: hearing and sight. It can be present at birth or develop with age. Its severity can vary and it can appear differently in different people. Because a deafblind person cannot compensate for one major sense with another, their lives are greatly affected in many ways.

Causes

There are many causes for deafblindness, although some are unknown or uncertain. Here are some causes:

• Aging
• Macular degeneration
• Usher syndrome
• Congenital rubella syndrome

Of course, hearing and vision loss are not always related. Many events may cause a person to lose their hearing and sight independently of each other.

Rehabilitation

Specialized rehabilitation is recommended for deafblind people and those around them. It aims to improve communication, develop effective coping strategies, avoid social isolation and adapt the environment to the person’s visual and auditory needs.

Hearing aids and recognition of deafblindness

Because deafblind people have certain functional limitations, the government covers the costs of purchasing, adjusting and repairing two hearing aids, provided certain eligibility criteria are met.

In order to receive two hearing aids through the RAMQ, the person must have their blindness recognized by an optometrist and their deafness recognized by an audiologist.