Deafblindness, also known as dual sensory impairment, can be caused by a variety of factors. The condition can either be present at birth or develop later in life. Deafblindness from birth is known as congenital deafblindness and can be caused by:
- Genetics: Certain genetic conditions, such as Usher syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Down’s syndrome among others can cause a person to be born deafblind.
- Prenatal exposure: Exposure to certain toxins or infections during pregnancy can result in deafblindness in the child.
- Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder – health problems caused by drinking alcohol in pregnancy
- Other factors: Other factors that can contribute to deafblindness include premature birth (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy), low birth weight, and malnutrition.
In most cases, deafblindness develops later in life. This is known as acquired deafblindness. A person with acquired deafblindness may be born without a hearing or sight problem and then later loses part or all of both senses. Alternatively, someone may be born with either a hearing or vision problem, and then later loses part or all of the other sense. Problems that can contribute to acquired deafblindness include:
- Damage to the brain, such as from meningitis, encephalitis, a stroke, rubella, and syphilis, can cause deafblindness if not treated properly.
- Injury or trauma: Head injury, brain damage, or damage to the ear can cause deafblindness.
- Degenerative diseases: Degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma can cause a person to slowly lose their vision and hearing.
- Cerebral palsy – a problem with the brain and nervous system that mainly affects movement and co-ordination
- Age-related hearing loss
- Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that affects hearing, vision and balance
- Diabetic retinopathy – a complication of diabetes where the cells lining the back of the eye are damaged by high blood sugar levels
It’s important to note that deafblindness can also be a combination of multiple factors, and the exact cause of deafblindness can vary from person to person.