Deafblindness Overview
Deafblindness is a rare condition in which an individual has combined hearing and vision loss that limits access to both auditory and visual information. The impact of deafblindness on learning and development is extensive and varies from person to person depending on the type and level of vision and hearing loss, age of onset (from birth or acquired later), and presence of additional disabilities. What is common among children and youth who are deafblind is that visual and auditory information used by sighted and hearing individuals is not fully accessible. This leads to difficulties in learning concepts about their world, developing communication and language, and forming social relationships with others.
Resources:
National Center in Deafblindness Fact Sheet (2022): An Overview of Deafblindness
An easy-to-read factsheet that provides a quick overview of what deafblindness is and how children who are deafblind learn and communicate.
VIDEO: What is Deafblindess? (5 minutes). National Center on Deafblindness (2025). Brief video that illustrates the diverse range of deafblindness and the unique interests, abilities, and access needs of this small population of learners.
National Center on Deafblindness Webpage: Deafblindness Overview
This webpage provides useful information and resources that explain deafblindness and the implications of combined vision and hearing loss. It also includes sections about the causes of deafblindness, vision and hearing, and profiles of learners who are deafblind.
Range of Combined Vision and Hearing Loss in Deaf-Blindness Luiselli, T. E., & Roman-Lantzy, C. (2019).
Table showing different combinations of degrees of vision and hearing loss.
National Center on Deafblindness Webpage: Services and Organizations for Families
“An essential part of advocating for services for your child is knowing to whom to reach out. This page lists services and organizations that are relevant to most families who have children who are deafblind at some time during their child's life.”
National Center on Deafblindness Webpage: Recursos para Familias
“Selected resources for Spanish-speaking families of children who are deafblind, including fact sheets, articles, learning modules, and webinars.”
If you did not find the information you were looking for, please contact us and we can provide or suggest additional resources that fit your needs. Contact Myrna Medina at myrnam@sfsu.edu or Julie Maier at jmaier@sfsu.edu.