Deaf-BlindnessBy: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Deafblindness refers to a combination of hearing and vision loss. Most students who are deafblind are not completely deaf or blind, but have some degree of hearing and vision loss. The combined effects of the two sensory losses can have a very significant affect on the student's learning. There is an added challenge for students who are deafblind to make sense of their world. As with other areas of visual impairments, it is essential to maximize the students use of their remaining hearing and vision, along with other senses and provide concrete methods of communicating in order to help them gain information and learn about their world.
Types of Auditory Impairments
Degrees of hearing loss
Forms of CommunicationThere are different forms of communication that a student who is deafblind may use. The Hearing Impairment Teacher and/or Speech and Language Pathologist will provide input in selecting a method for communication. The method may be modified over time as the student's developmental level changes or if there is a change in the students hearing or vision. The following are the primary communication options:
Sign Communication
Aural Modes
Total CommunicationTotal communication includes the use of any form of communication that is appropriate in meeting the unique needs of the student in a given situation, including signs, finger spelling, speech, speech reading, and amplification. If the student demonstrates strengths in using hearing and/or touch to communicate, the following are options:
Amplification Options
Deafblindness refers to a combination of hearing and vision loss. Most students who are deafblind are not completely deaf or blind but have some degree of hearing and vision loss. The following resources can help learn more about deaf-blindness and instructional strategies. If you are aware of other helpful resources, please let me know so I can add them here! Links are embedded in the titles of organizations whose websites are identified as secure.
Deafblind Online Resources
Additional ResourcesDeafblindness: Educational Service Guidelines by Marianne Riggio provides a framework for creating a program for students who are deafblind. The guidelines, developed by a group of educators and family members, identify the knowledge and skills educators need to assist students who are deafblind reach their full potential and become successful contributing members of society.
Signing Savvy is a great web resource to use with students who are learning sign. It provides a searchable web dictionary and a video of how to sign the word or phrase!
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