As part of Deafblind Awareness Week, North East Sensory Services (NESS) would like to highlight deafblindness in older people, sometimes referred to as dual sensory loss.
Around 1/3 of the people living with a sight loss over the age of 65 also have a hearing loss, and the numbers may be significantly higher. Many older people put it down to getting older and don’t realise that there are lots of things that can help to make life a little bit easier and reduce their social isolation.
When you meet someone with a dual sensory loss, following these tips will help your communication with them:
- Make sure you have got the person’s attention
- Find out how they prefer to communicate and adapt your communication accordingly
- Make sure you are facing them, with your face well lit
- Speak slightly more slowly and clearly
- Use short but complete sentences and check that the person has understood
- Use gesture, facial expression and other methods that help e.g. draw a picture
- Reduce any background noise
- If asked to repeat, try rephrasing – some words are easier to pick up than others
- Allow plenty of time and stop if the person gets tired.
North East Sensory Services provides support across the Grampian area to people who have a sensory loss. Support includes practical and emotional support, mobility training, advice and information about technology and daily living aids, as well as support to reduce social isolation. NESS also delivers sensory awareness training.
For more information about support provided locally by NESS visit www.nesensoryservices.org, phone on 01224 625622 or SMS 07593 102004.
North East Sensory Services
Social welfare charity
