Deafblindness - from a multi-disciplinary research perspective

For many, living with deafblindness entails limitations in participating and being active in society on equal terms with others. According to the Nordic definition, deafblindness means a combined visual and hearing impairment of such a degree that each sense has difficulty compensating for the impairment in the other sense.

For persons with deafblindness, this means difficulties in accessing information and communicating with others. It can also cause problems with being able to orientate and move around in a safe and secure way. These difficulties can result in poor physical and mental health and social isolation. Society therefore needs to offer specialised rehabilitation and habilitation services to the target group.

The research group consists of researchers with different professional and disciplinary backgrounds and has long-term goals to conduct research to improve the living conditions and quality of life for people with deafblindness. The group also focuses on increasing the knowledge in society about persons with deafblindness and their conditions, and how interventions in, for example, rehabilitation and habilitation can be designed to meet the needs of the target group.

Professionals are invited to participate in the group based on an expressed interest in research questions and the research being conducted. The research group endeavours to develop and implement research projects that will contribute in a substantial way to the understanding and knowledge of the challenges faced by persons with deafblindness.

External members in the research group: 

Sofia Hansdotter, Licensed psychologist, National Resource Centre on Deafblindness in Sweden. Emil Holmer, docent in Disability Research, Linköping University. Rasmus Hougaard Pedersen, psychologist/project manager, cand.psych., The Specialist Consultancy for the Deafblind, The North Denmark Region. Emma Varga, Counsellor, National Resource Centre on Deafblindness in Sweden.