Fill in the Gaps

A checklist for assessing older deafblind people 

People with a dual sensory loss are entitled to a specialist assessment. If you assess older people but do not have expertise in the field of sensory loss this checklist will help you identify people who need a specialist assessment.

Vision

Does the older person have difficulty with:

-•	recognising people, particularly in unexpected situations?

-•	bright light, low light, or both?

-•	reading facial expressions?

-•	finding something they have lost without using their hand, or asking someone else to find it for them?

-•	reading books, the newspaper, their watch face or watching television?

-•	moving around in unfamiliar places, or in familiar places if they have changed. *

-•	Do they often say they need new glasses?

* The difficulties with moving around may also be related to other physical issues, so careful observation is needed here.

If you have ticked two or more of these criteria, then the older person’s vision should be assessed. 

Hearing.

Does the older person:

-•	often ask people to repeat what they have said?

-•	fail to hear when someone knocks at the door or rings the bell?

-•	complain of people ‘mumbling’ or speaking too quickly?

-•	have difficulty hearing when several people are present?

-•	have difficulty hearing the television, radio or music, and perhaps needs the volume turned up high?

-•	have difficulty understanding unfamiliar people?

-•	have problems using the telephone, and perhaps prefers not to?

-•	Do you have to speak loudly or distinctly, even in quiet situations in order to be understood?

If you have ticked two or more of these criteria, then the older person’s hearing should be assessed.

If you have ticked two or more criteria on both these checklists, then it is highly likely that they have a dual sensory impairment – and this will probably be causing them considerable difficulties with their daily life.

They should now be assessed by someone who is considered competent under the Social Care Guidance on Deafblind Children and Adults. You should make contact with your sensory team to arrange a specialist assessment.

This checklist has been put together by Sense, a national charity working with deafblind people.

www.sense.org.uk
info@sense.org.uk