Living with combined vision and hearing loss: what difference does the hearing make?

Author: Jenny Widmark, audiologist
Supervisors: Sarah Granberg, audiologist, PhD, senior lecturer; Milijana Malmberg, audiologist, PhD, senior lecturer

Background

People with Usher type 2 have congenital hearing loss and acquired progressive visual impairment, which usually presents itself in adolescence. Previous studies have demonstrated that information, communication, orientation and mobility as well as psychosocial well-being are affected when living with combined vision- and hearing loss.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore how hearing, hearing aids and various assistive technical aids are experienced in the daily lives of people with Usher syndrome type 2.

Method and materials

In this qualitative study, eight persons with Usher type 2, with an average age of 57 years participated. The data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews with open questions. The material was analysed according to qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

Results

The results are based on four central areas: information, communication, orientation/mobility and the psychosocial perspective. With a progressive visual impairment, increased uncertainty is described in the perception of spoken communication due to difficulties in reading lips and facial expressions. Hearing aids are very important in communication. Technology and assistive devices have opened up opportunities to acquire information through hearing when there is not enough vision. It takes competence and training to learn how to use ones hearing ability and various aids when vision is failing. Environmental factors such as light and sound environment were described as crucial for communication, information and orientation/mobility. Actively using the hearing aids is energy-intensive, hence it is necessary to sometimes rest the hearing to “last” a whole day. When orienteering and moving, the hearing and hearing aids can increase the feeling of ambient control and security. Hearing aids play a very important role in daily life from a psychosocial perspective. Strategies are being developed to make everyday life work.

” Nowadays, my hearing aids are the only thing I have, before I could lip read, then I had like two systems I could rely on. I can not do that now, now I only have the hearing aids…”

” My hearing aids have a fundamental significance in everything I do.”