Multiple Disabilities and Deaf Health

When It Is Not Just Deafness

Deafness often does not occur alone. Sometimes, there are other conditions in addition to the deafness. These other conditions can make life challenging for the deaf individual, and challenging for parents raising children with these additional conditions. Children with multiple disabilities including deafness are sometimes referred to as "deaf plus" children.

Getting an education for "deaf plus" children can be especially trying for parents. I have seen complaints on the Internet from parents of deaf plus children who have struggled to get an adequate education for their children from either public school programs, or schools for the deaf. Some schools for the deaf also reportedly limit the number of deaf plus children that they will accept.

Other times, a deaf person will develop health issues. For example, a deaf person could acquire the HIV virus and need special assistance and educational services. Deaf drug addicts need special services. A deaf person with mental health problems may have difficulty finding a signing therapist skilled in both deafness and mental health.

Health Conditions

AIDS in the Deaf Community
Limited language skills plus the existence of the HIV virus can create a dangerous situation if a deaf person does not understand what is happening to them.

Deafness and Substance Abuse
Resources, support services, and more for educating deaf people about substance abuse and for treating the deaf substance abuser.

Mental Health Services for Deaf
Accessible mental health services for deaf people can be difficult to find.

Multiple Disabilities

Deaf People with Autism
Autism alone is challenging enough for parents. Now add deafness.

Deaf People and Cerebral Palsy
My personal experience with a deaf child with cerebral palsy and a review of a web site on deafness and cerebral palsy.

Deafblindness

About.com has interviewed parents of deafblind children, and I have had personal exposure to deafblind people.

Deafblind Triplets
Think it is difficult to raise a deaf child? A blind child? Try both, and multiply by three. That's the life of the Hooker family.

DeafBlindness
I have personally known people with deafblindness.

Usher Syndrome
Usher Syndrome is a syndrome that is associated with deafblindness.

Other Challenges

Deafness and Balance Problems
Balance problems may happen in people with hearing loss because of the involvement of the vestibular system.

Deafness and Mental Retardation
Sometimes, syndromes that cause deafness can also cause mental retardation. Education and research into deafness and mental retardation.