National Survey of Impairment Level and Communication Status with Dual Sensory Loss in Later Adulthood

Abstract

　This study on impairment and communication status based on the data of 2,018 deaf-blind older adults from a national survey carried out with the cooperation of 97 local governments in Japan revealed the following.
　Deaf-blind older adults accounted for 74.6% of people with acquired visual and hearing impairments (visually and hearing impaired, 46.1%; blind and hearing impaired, 25.6%; totally deaf-blind, 10.3%; deaf and visually impaired, 8.9%). Moreover, the proportion of hearing-aid recipients remained at 46.4%, of whom only half were able to understand the speech of a person whom they met for the first time, even with the assistance of hearing aids. Experts who take care of deaf-blind adults need to collaborate to provide information regarding hearing aids and active hearing use.
　Furthermore, 32.4% of totally deaf-blind adults experienced social isolation, with a conversation frequency of 2 days or less a month. This suggests that systematic expert support should be provided immediately after medical examination of for persons with dual impairment, including information regarding alternative communication modes and rehabilitation.