Research with people with deafblindness

Our research in deafblindness has focused on a number of different areas.

Projects with older people

The following three projects over 4 years focused on the needs of older people with sight and hearing loss.

Literature review on older people with sight and hearing loss

This initial research sought to overview the key published literature in the UK and identify ongoing relevant work in the area of combined hearing and sight loss and make recommendations for future work.

Funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust

Research report

Hearing and Sight Loss: Final Report 

Experiences of older people with both sight and hearing loss

This research was to increase the knowledge base concerning the experiences, needs and goals of older people with both sight and hearing loss who acquire one or both of these conditions in later life and raise awareness of these needs and those of people living and working with them.

The research had two distinct phases. The first phase analysed two already existing datasets relating to 609 older people with hearing and sight loss. This analysis has been previously presented in a report by Pavey, Bodsworth, Douglas, Clare and Hodges (2007). The second phase focused on case studies of 20 older people with hearing and sight loss.

Funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust.

Research reports

Older People with Combined Hearing and Sight Loss in Residential Homes

This third project funded by BUPA focused on the needs of older people in residential care homes; whether they were identified as having sight and hearing loss and how their needs as people with dual sensory loss were met. 

Research report

The Identification and Assessment of the Needs of Older People with Combined Hearing and Sight Loss in Residential Homes 

Life and Change with Usher

The experiences of diagnosis for people with Usher syndrome
In this research, funded by SENSE, we examined the lives of people with Usher syndrome, types 1, 2 and 3. We talked to people at different stages in their lives to understand their experience of diagnosis and the impact this has on planning for life and identity.

Experiences of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on people with sensory loss
As part of UK government’s welfare reforms, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has begun to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64. In this research funded by the RNIB, the Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sense, we wish to understand the impact of the specific DLA to PIP policy change, both in terms of the experience of claiming PIP.

The experiences of people with dual sensory impairment attending rare syndrome clinics 
In this research funded by SENSE we talked to people who have sensory impairments and rare syndromes about their experiences in attending specialist clinics.  They talked to us about getting to clinics, being at clinics and the follow up from clinics, as well as more general issues about health care and sensory impairment. 

As well as the research highlighted above, we are also activily engaged in research with students studying for Masters and PhD degrees. 

Contact Details

Dr Liz Hodges 
Email victar-enquiries@bham.ac.uk