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Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to describe experiences of disabilities and factors affecting daily life from the perspective of adult persons with severe-to-profound hearing impairment in combination with severe vision impairment. Furthermore, the study also investigated which kind of support individuals with dual sensory loss received, and their experiences as citizens in the society. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed, analyzed, and categorized using content analysis. Results: Fourteen interviews were performed, with equal number of both sexes. Mean age was 70.1 years (47–81 years). Analysis of the data resulted in 22 categories, six sub-themes and two main themes. Two main themes emerged as Isolation and The Ability to control one's own daily life. Surprisingly, most of the participants did not think of their vision and hearing impairment as a combined disability. The interviews showed various kind of strategies to handle daily life. The Deafblind-team unit was reported to offer excellent health care. Companion services for persons with disabilities proved to have become more difficult to get support from and created lack of independence and control over their own lives. However, it was also obvious that the participants felt a positive outlook on life and were more solution-oriented in order to adjust their everyday life to their life-situation. Conclusions: The combination of vision and hearing impairment demonstrated isolation, and the respondents in the study have a need of support in everyday lives. At the same time, they struggle to have the ability to control their own lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and report demographic data of patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss, assess participation in audiological rehabilitation and analyze the benefits of various rehabilitation methods. Materials and methods: Data on 4286 patients with severe-to-profound hearing impairments registered in the Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology over a period from 2006–2015 were studied. Demographic data, gender differences, audiological rehabilitation and benefits of the rehabilitation were analyzed. Results: Group rehabilitation and visits to a hearing rehabilitation educator provided the most benefits in audiological rehabilitation. Only 40.5% of the patients received extended audiological rehabilitation, of which 54.5% were women. A total of 9.5% of patients participated in group rehabilitation, with 59.5% being women. Women also visited technicians, welfare officers, hearing rehabilitation educators, psychologists and physicians and received communication rehabilitation in a group and fit with cochlea implants significantly more often than did men. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of being given the opportunity to participate in group rehabilitation and meet a hearing rehabilitation educator to experience the benefits of hearing rehabilitation. There is a need to offer extended audiological rehabilitation, especially in terms of gender differences, to provide the same impact for women and men. Significantly more women than men with severe-to-profound hearing impairment receive audiological rehabilitation. Hearing impairment appears to have a significantly more negative impact on women's quality of life than men's. It is important to offer extended audiological rehabilitation to all patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss to obtain an equal hearing health care regardless of gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: Patients with severe vision impairment in combination with severe-to-profound hearing loss seem to have a higher risk for effects on QoL, including: mobility, the ability to provide self-care and perform usual activities, and levels of anxiety and depression, compared with patients with only severe-to-profound hearing loss. Objectives: To study the quality-of-life (QoL) and audiological rehabilitation of the severely visionimpaired patient population among adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss in Sweden. Method: A study of data collected from 543 patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss combined with severe vision impairment among the total of 2319 persons registered in the Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology. QoL was measured with the following instruments: EQ5D, PIRS, and HADS. Audiological rehabilitation was described and evaluated. Results: The patients with dual sensory loss were younger, were more likely to live alone, and had a lower level of education than the control group. The QoL of the study group was significantly negatively affected. In total, 89% of the study group had been rehabilitated with hearing aids, while 8% had received rehabilitation with cochlear implants. A total of 32% of the study group had received extended audiological rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data were collected from the national quality register for severe-to-profound hearing impairment in adults in Sweden. All patients with severe hearing impairment, regardless of gender, should be offered extended audiological rehabilitation. Severe hearing loss results in a significantly more negative impact on women's quality-of-life (QoL) compared to men. Patients with combined severe vision and hearing loss experience a poorer QoL and greater levels of anxiety and depression compared to patients with severe hearing loss. Surprisingly, few patients are offered cochlea implants (CIs) despite fulfilling the criteria for CI. CI investigation should be initiated early in patients with severe hearing loss to increase the potential for an improved QoL and reduced anxiety and depression.