[Editorial] Hearing loss: an important global health concern
“Deafness separates people from people”, said the deaf-blind American author Helen Keller. Hearing loss can have profound effects not only on interpersonal communication, but also on health, independence, wellbeing, quality of life, and daily function. In 2012, WHO estimated that 360 million people (5·3% of the world's population) were living with disabling hearing loss, while around 15% of the world's adult population had some degree of hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss is unequally distributed across the world, with the greatest burden in the Asia-Pacific area, southern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - June 10, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: The Lancet Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
The incidence of congenital syphilis in the United Kingdom: February 2010 to January 2015.
CONCLUSION: The incidence of congenital syphilis is controlled and monitored by healthcare services and related surveillance systems, and is now below the WHO elimination threshold. However, reducing the public health impact of this preventable disease in the UK is highly dependent on the successful implementation of WHO elimination standards across Europe.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Congenital syphilis incidence in the UK is at a very low level and well below the WHO elimination threshold.
PMID: 26931054 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: BJOG : An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
Source: BJOG : An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - March 2, 2016 Category: OBGYN Authors: Simms I, Tookey PA, Goh BT, Lyall H, Evans B, Townsend CL, Fifer H, Ison C Tags: BJOG Source Type: research
The incidence of congenital syphilis in the United Kingdom: February 2010 to January 2015
ConclusionThe incidence of congenital syphilis is controlled and monitored by healthcare services and related surveillance systems, and is now below the WHO elimination threshold. However, reducing the public health impact of this preventable disease in the UK is highly dependent on the successful implementation of WHO elimination standards across Europe.
Tweetable abstractCongenital syphilis incidence in the UK is at a very low level and well below the WHO elimination threshold. (Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - March 2, 2016 Category: OBGYN Authors: I Simms, PA Tookey, BT Goh, H Lyall, B Evans, CL Townsend, H Fifer, C Ison Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Increasing Self-Regulation and Classroom Participation of a Child Who Is Deafblind.
Abstract
Self-regulation has been identified as essential to school success. However, for a variety of reasons, its development may be compromised in children and youth who are deafblind. A single-case multiple-baseline study of a child who was deafblind examined the effects of three groups of evidence-based interventions on variables thought to be associated with self-regulation. The dependent variables were (a) frequency and duration of behaviors thought to indicate dysregulation, (b) active participation in school activities, and (c) time from onset of behaviors indicating dysregulation until achievemen...
Source: American Annals of the Deaf - February 10, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: Nelson C, Hyte HA, Greenfield R Tags: Am Ann Deaf Source Type: research
One of society's most vulnerable groups? A systematically conducted literature review exploring the vulnerability of deafblind people
Abstract
The vulnerability of deafblind people is considered axiomatic; they are seen not only as a vulnerable group but also as one of the most vulnerable. This paper aims to synthesise existing knowledge to determine what is known about such vulnerability. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken between April 2013 and May 2014. The review method was informed by systematic review principles. An approach based on a ‘hierarchy of evidence’ would have reduced the amount of literature reviewed significantly, to the point where synthesis would not be possible. Included material was appraised and an interpretative ...
Source: Health and Social Care in the Community - January 5, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Peter Simcock Tags: Review Source Type: research
Development of a Portable Two-Way Communication and Information Device for Deafblind People.
Authors: Ozioko O, Hersh M
Abstract
This paper presents research on the development of a wearable two-way communication and information device for deafblind people who use tactile communications methods, namely the British deafblind manual alphabet and/or Braille. The device has two components: a glove worn by the deafblind person and a handheld display with keypad to be used by their hearing and sighted communication partner. Users can send messages using pressure sensors embedded in the glove and receive them by means of vibration on the palm. The two components are linked by Bluetooth and the use of Blu...
Source: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics - December 2, 2015 Category: Information Technology Tags: Stud Health Technol Inform Source Type: research
Behavioral Health Providers for Persons Who Are Deaf, Deafblind, or Hard-of-Hearing: A National Survey of the Structural and Process Domains of Care.
Authors: Nolan BA, Mathos K, Fusco LE, Post EP
Abstract
Research suggests higher prevalence of mental health problems for those with hearing problems than in the general population. Despite barriers, mental health services for persons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing (HOH) have developed to meet the cultural and communication needs of this population. The authors conducted a national survey of mental health service providers to persons who are deaf, deafblind, or HOH, to learn about their structural and process domains of care. Results indicate that services for persons who are deaf, deafblind, or HOH are ...
Source: Social Work in Public Health - November 21, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Soc Work Public Health Source Type: research
Deaf, blind or deaf-blind: Is touch enhanced?
Abstract
When someone looses one type of sensory input, s/he may compensate by using the sensory information conveyed by other senses. To verify whether loosing a sense or two has consequences on a spared sensory modality, namely touch, and whether these consequences depend on the type of sensory loss, we investigated the effects of deafness and blindness on temporal and spatial tactile tasks in deaf, blind and deaf-blind people. Deaf and deaf-blind people performed the spatial tactile task better than the temporal one, while blind and controls showed the opposite pattern. Deaf and deaf-blind participants ...
Source: Experimental Brain Research - November 16, 2015 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Papagno C, Cecchetto C, Pisoni A, Bolognini N Tags: Exp Brain Res Source Type: research
Capitalizing on Community Resources to Build Specialized Behavioral Health Services Together with Persons who are Deaf, Deafblind or Hard of Hearing.
We describe the development and implementation of a task force comprised of "front line" providers, administrators, county government officials, advocates and consumers that has made strides toward effective change in a local behavioral health care system. Methods employed, successes, barriers and other reflections on the task force's efforts also are described.
PMID: 26507549 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Community Mental Health Journal)
Source: Community Mental Health Journal - October 27, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Mathos KK, Pollard RQ Tags: Community Ment Health J Source Type: research
Programs for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults.
Authors:
PMID: 26166394 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Annals of the Deaf)
Source: American Annals of the Deaf - July 15, 2015 Category: Audiology Tags: Am Ann Deaf Source Type: research
The Diagnostic Performance of the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale for Detecting Delirium in Older Emergency Department Patients.
CONCLUSIONS: In older ED patients, a RASS other than 0 has very good sensitivity and specificity for delirium as diagnosed by a psychiatrist. A RASS > +1 or < -1 is nearly diagnostic for delirium, given the very high positive likelihood ratio.
PMID: 26113020 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Accident and Emergency Nursing)
Source: Accident and Emergency Nursing - June 25, 2015 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Han JH, Vasilevskis EE, Schnelle JF, Shintani A, Dittus RS, Wilson A, Ely EW Tags: Acad Emerg Med Source Type: research
The Diagnostic Performance of the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale for Detecting Delirium in Older Emergency Department Patients
ConclusionsIn older ED patients, a RASS other than 0 has very good sensitivity and specificity for delirium as diagnosed by a psychiatrist. A RASS > +1 or < –1 is nearly diagnostic for delirium, given the very high positive likelihood ratio. (Source: Academic Emergency Medicine)
Source: Academic Emergency Medicine - June 25, 2015 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Jin H. Han, Eduard E. Vasilevskis, John F. Schnelle, Ayumi Shintani, Robert S. Dittus, Amanda Wilson, E. Wesley Ely Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research
[Correspondence] Hearing loss: a global health issue
The deaf-blind American author Helen Keller once said “Blindness separates people from things. Deafness separates people from people.” Roughly 360 million people around the world are living lives separated from others because of hearing loss.1 32 million are children. If their condition is not identified and given appropriate treatment early in life, these children often face delays in development of speech, language, and cognitive skills, with knock-on effects such as learning difficulties in school. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - March 3, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Lai Meng Looi, Detlev Ganten, Peter F McGrath, Manfred Gross, George E Griffin Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research
Effects of changes in life circumstances on interaction and communication in adults with congenital deafblindness and an intellectual disability
This study examined the effects of the first 2 years of the ongoing Project CHANGE, aimed at improving interaction and communication in adults with congenital deafblindness (CDB) and an intellectual disability (ID). Six adults with no history of deafblind education participated in this study. These first 2 years of CHANGE involved an improvement in living conditions, including a transition to a new group home and interactions with specialized caregivers. Video recordings and file information were used to measure interaction and communication during baseline (T0) and two subsequent periods (T1 and T2). The results show an i...
Source: British Journal of Visual Impairment - December 22, 2014 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Bloeming-Wolbrink, K. A., Janssen, M. J., Ruijssenaars, W. A., Menke, R., Riksen-Walraven, J. M. Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research
Deafblind and Neglected or Deafblindness Neglected? Revisiting the Case of Beverley Lewis
Deafblindness is a particularly complex impairment and deafblind people are considered to be some of the most vulnerable members of society; this includes vulnerability to abuse and harm. This paper explores this unique impairment in the illustrative case of Beverley Lewis, by reviewing archived published and audio material about the life and circumstances of the death of this young woman, including media reports, parliamentary debates and commentaries. Whilst it appears that the implications of Beverley's deafblindness may have been ‘overshadowed’ in media reports and inquiries, the paper suggests that further...
Source: British Journal of Social Work - December 3, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Simcock, P., Manthorpe, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
