If you had to choose between deafness and blindness which one would you choose? Would it be deafness, which would let you continue to be independent in getting around? Or would it be blindness, because it would let you continue to communicate with those around you? Imagine the life of those who are both deaf and blind.

It is estimated that there are 2,000 people in Quebec in this situation while these disabilities on their own may rarely be total, the combination of them multiplies the handicaps. Can one pursue one's studies if deprived of both of these senses? What dos the word "autonomous" mean in this kind of reality? In matters of communication it is the role of the audiologist to assist and counsel both the person living with this double handicap and the people in his/her environment.

Adapted auditory and visual aids can partially improve the quality of life for these individuals : hearing aids, large screen, or telebraille for telephone use, amplification, and/or systeme for the T.V. and radio, environmental controls (visual or tactile) can are help to know if there's someone at the door, if the phone is ringing, if the baby is crying or if the smoke detector has gone off.

These are not the only ways to overcome the handicaps. There are strategies to learn to make sure that the individual is able to communicate with others, often it is the person who lives with the dual disability who needs to take the first steps to help other people understand how to communicate with him. Speak to an audiologist, the specialist in hearing disorders.