Interventions for children with deafblindness-An integrative review
Ann-Sofie Sundqvist1, Moa Wahlqvist1,2,3, Agneta Anderzén-Carlsson1
1University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Child: Care, Health and Development
|September 13, 2022
Summary
This review found few evaluated interventions for children with deafblindness, primarily focusing on social interaction and communication. More research is crucial to improve support and interventions for this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Audiology
Background:
- Deafblindness affects approximately 1 in 27,000 newborns globally.
- Lifelong support is essential for individuals with deafblindness to foster communication, activity, and quality of life.
- Limited research exists on effective interventions for children with deafblindness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize and disseminate research findings on interventions for children with deafblindness.
- To identify effective support strategies for children aged 0-18 with deafblindness.
- To explore interventions for relatives and professionals working with children with deafblindness.
Main Methods:
- An integrative review approach was used, involving systematic searches across eight databases and manual searches.
- Inclusion criteria focused on original studies published between 2000 and 2021 concerning interventions for children with deafblindness.
- Key findings were synthesized into categories based on intervention goals and actions.
Main Results:
- Out of 6,268 identified studies, 32 were included in the review.
- Interventions primarily focused on social interaction and communication (24 studies), motivation and participation, and adaptation of the educational environment.
- Most interventions were individualized to meet the specific needs of each child.
Conclusions:
- There is a limited evidence base for evaluated interventions for children with deafblindness.
- Social interaction and communication interventions are the most prevalent.
- Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence for interventions supporting children with deafblindness.
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