Combined sensory impairment (deaf-blindness) in five percent of adults with intellectual disabilities

Our purpose in this cross-sectional study with 1,598 adult clients who had intellectual disabilities was to obtain valid prevalences of sensory impairments and to identify associations. The diagnoses were made through ophthalmologic and audiometric assessments, applying WHO/IASSID definitions. Re-weighted prevalences were 5.0% (95% CI 3.9-6.2%) for the total adult population; 2.9% (1.9-4.1), less than 50 years; and 11.0% (7.9-14.7), 50 years and over. Apart from being 50 years of age and over, p = .000, risk factors were more severe intellectual disability,p = .0001, and Down syndrome,p = .001. Results show that the risk of combined sensory impairment in this population is considerably increased compared with the general population. Part of the underlying conditions are treatable or can be rehabilitated. However, the complete diagnosis had been identified in only 12%.

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