Chromatic discrimination in deaf adults: Is there a cross-modal activity?

Abstract

Introduction: Deafness can be considered as partial or total hearing loss that makes it impossible to receive or process sound stimuli, and cause changes in other sensory systems, such as the visual system. Objective: This study evaluated whether hearing deprivation alters the color perception discrimination of young adults and Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) interpreters. Method: Thirty young adults of both sexes participated in this research. Deaf participants were diagnosed with severe or profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and all volunteers had normal 20/20 visual acuity. We were used the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Lanthony Desaturated D-15 as instruments. Results: A significant difference was found for the color confusion index (CCI) (χ 2 (2) = 12.14; p = .02) and in randomness (χ 2 (2) = 9.79; p = .007). Deaf individuals showed greater losses in the C-index when compared to listeners (U = 11.85; p = .003) and interpreters (U = 11.85; p = .008). Conclusion: Our study shows that deafness causes losses in color discrimination, with specific losses in the spatial arrangement and CCI. Public Significance StatementThis study describes at sensory threshold levels the visual capacity that deaf subjects must discriminate color perception.