Identification of congenital deafblindness

Abstract

For many reasons an accurate and straightforward identification of congenital deafblindness can be difficult. This article reports on the assessment procedures and experience in Denmark where medical examinations were combined with functional assessments performed through direct observation. The study evaluated the assessment procedure of 190 children and adults found to be congenitally deafblind. Among the 190 individuals 76 percent were determined using functional assessment in addition to medical examination. A case example involving a 12-year-old child is also presented to illustrate the complexity in identifying congenital deafblindness. It is concluded that determining deafblindness should not be limited to medical procedures (vision and hearing tests) alone, but may also involve a lengthy process to assess the level of sense functioning the individual possesses.