The mathematics of multiple disabilities - usually when you add one and one you get two, but with additional disabilities it is usually a lot more than two. We already know that having both a vision and hearing impairments produces a much more involved disability than either one alone. Usually vision impairments are compensated with hearing and the same for hearing impairment compensated with vision. So having the two disabilities is a lot greater than one and one. When there are additional disabilities the effect is also greater. Each disability has an effect on the other. Service providers need to learn and know a little about all kinds of disabilities. As a parent, we know a lot about our child's disabilities. We need to be sure and share information with service providers that will help them to better serve our children.

Many of the children with deafblindness have various health issues. As mentioned above, service providers need to learn a little about many health issues. We, as parents, know a lot about the health issues our children face. We need to make sure information is shared with everyone who works with our child.

Emotional development is greatly impacted by deafblindness. Bonding is harder to achieve when the child has deafblindness. The child may not have motivation to try new things. Learned helplessness happens frequently in children with deafblindness. Isolation also happens with children who are deafblind. The child's perception of safety may not be correct. These and other emotional issues must be addressed as quickly as possible.

Isolation can be reduced by communication and feedback. Let the child know that he is not alone and provide ways for him to make his wants and needs known. Find ways to include the child in school, family and community activities.

When efforts are not responded to, there is a decreased desire to make the effort again. When this happens over time, learned helplessness can occur. When we do everything for the child we increase learned helplessness.

More information can be found in the following links

“Medical Websites” - An article from the See/Hear newsletter.

“Syndromes Which Often Result in Combined Vision and Hearing Loss” - An article from See/Hear Newsletter.

DISH stands for Deafblind Intervention Strategies for the Home,
click here for the intro and index page