The deafblind population has been significantly underestimated and is set to rise dramatically.
Sense commissioned independent, expert research on the numbers of deafblind people now and over the next twenty years. The Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) report, summarised in the download below, found that the deafblind population has been significantly underestimated and is set to rise dramatically.
The numbers of deafblind people in the UK
The new research is available to download below:
Number of deafblind people by age band | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 |
| 0-19 | 21,000 | 22,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 23,000 |
| 20-59 | 56,000 | 59,000 | 60,000 | 59,000 | 58,000 |
| 60-69 | 57,000 | 59,000 | 59,000 | 66,000 | 71,000 |
| 70+ | 222,000 | 254,000 | 298,000 | 348,000 | 418,000 |
| Total | 356,000 | 394,000 | 440,000 | 496,000 | 569,000 |
Taking action
Sense’s main recommendations are contained in the summary report, these include improvements in identification, planning and budgeting, assessments, social care services and government policies.
More information
Local authorities have statutory responsibilities towards deafblind people. Those responsible for commissioning, planning and delivering primary health care will need to know how to support deafblind people.
We've put together a short question and answer page to provide futher resources.
If you would like further information:
