The Audibility of Low Vision Devices with Speech Output Used by Older Adults with Dual Sensory Impairment

Abstract

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Device abandonment in deafblindness: a scoping review of the intersection of functionality and usability through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health lens

“…Technologies for hearing impairment were the following: personal amplification system, 60 telephone amplifier, 60 hearing aids. 17 37 59 64 Technologies for vision impairment were the following: talking clock or watch, 60 62 talking calculator, 62 talking scanner, 62 white cane, 17 64 braille technology 37 64 and different types of magnification devices. 64 In addition, mainstream technologies that could be connected or incorporated to overcome barriers unique to combined vision and hearing impairment were explored: tablet computers, 64 videophone technology together with 22-inch television monitor, 58 braille display notetaker connected via Bluetooth to an iPhone, 61 63 and global positioning technology linked to a smartphone and apps.…”

“…Variables that are intrinsic to specific technologies and that can influence device use included device size, 17 61 the ability to control the volume, 62 or overall device sound quality, device malfunctions and device cost. 37 For example, participants commented that smaller devices facilitated travel and use, while the possibility to use a volume control was reported as a potential advantage for improving speech understanding when using a hearing aid.…”

“… 60 In addition, the option of repeating recorded information through a device was reported to be beneficial for hearing. 62 Furthermore, access to and availability of technical support emerged as a variable that became relevant when problems arose with device use in the field, 61 63 with the need for support in these situations often being fulfilled by friends or family 17 as well as by the availability of support through government services. 64 …”

“…59 60 62 64 Research methodologies included qualitative, 17 37 58 63-65 quantitative 59 60 62 and mixedmethods approaches. 61 Deafblindness was defined using medical model quantitative thresholds based on visual acuity and pure-tone audiogram measurements, [60][61][62][63][64] self-institutional identifiers 17 37 58 65 or questionnaire responses. 59 Two studies 61 63 made reference to the Nordic Definition of Deafblindness, 66 while one study 17 referred to the European Parliament' Written declaration on the rights of deafblind people, describing deafblindness as a unique disability.…”

Older adults with dual sensory loss in rehabilitation show high functioning and may fare better than those with single sensory loss

“…This becomes evident if we consider how DSL negatively affects the two primary modes of sensory communication; HL causes difficulties with listening whilst VL limits speechreading [11]. Making matters worse, most technological devices are designed to compensate for a single sensory impairment (e.g., closed-captioning, flashing alarm clock), limiting their usefulness for persons with DSL [11,17,18]. In both models, the impact of DSL would be larger than that of single sensory impairment.…”