Sensory Impairment and Mental Health

TY - CHAP

T1 - Sensory Impairment and Mental Health

AU - Dammeyer, Jesper Herup

AU - Hendar, Ola

PY - 2013/3

Y1 - 2013/3

N2 - Sensory impairment - hearing impairment, visual impairment ordeaf-blindness - is found to increase the risk of developing mental healthproblems of almost all kinds. The aim of this chapter is to present anddiscuss research findings concerning the associations between sensoryimpairment and mental health. Focus will be on two differentexplanations: First, common genetic or neurological components maycause both sensory impairment and mental health problems. Second thatsensory impairment affects communicative abilities, social interaction,and limits input from the surrounding environment, all of which mayincrease the individual's level of stress in everyday life.Research in correlation between sensory impairment and mentalhealth issues is important both in order to better understand the impact ofsensory impairment on human functioning and to gain more knowledgeabout mental health and sensation in general.The chapter starts with a review of existing research regarding theprevalence of mental health problems in persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory loss, respectively. Mental healthissues of special interest will be elaborated upon according to type ofsensory impairment, for example cases of depression among elderlypeople with acquired deaf-blindness and cases of autism among childrenwith congenital blindness. A major topic will be discussions of howcommunication and language difficulties following sensory impairmentare associated with mental health problems. For children, in particular,sensory impairment may result in language delays that may have seriousconsequences for their development. Finally, clinical issues will bediscussed, for example challenges regarding assessment, differentialdiagnostics, and recommended treatment procedures.In conclusion, sensory impairment, in most cases, is not a directcause to mental health problems but is a contributing factor to anincreased vulnerability towards developing mental health disorders.Communication and language development are found to be one of themost important components in prevention and treatment of mental healthproblems among individuals with sensory impairment.

AB - Sensory impairment - hearing impairment, visual impairment ordeaf-blindness - is found to increase the risk of developing mental healthproblems of almost all kinds. The aim of this chapter is to present anddiscuss research findings concerning the associations between sensoryimpairment and mental health. Focus will be on two differentexplanations: First, common genetic or neurological components maycause both sensory impairment and mental health problems. Second thatsensory impairment affects communicative abilities, social interaction,and limits input from the surrounding environment, all of which mayincrease the individual's level of stress in everyday life.Research in correlation between sensory impairment and mentalhealth issues is important both in order to better understand the impact ofsensory impairment on human functioning and to gain more knowledgeabout mental health and sensation in general.The chapter starts with a review of existing research regarding theprevalence of mental health problems in persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory loss, respectively. Mental healthissues of special interest will be elaborated upon according to type ofsensory impairment, for example cases of depression among elderlypeople with acquired deaf-blindness and cases of autism among childrenwith congenital blindness. A major topic will be discussions of howcommunication and language difficulties following sensory impairmentare associated with mental health problems. For children, in particular,sensory impairment may result in language delays that may have seriousconsequences for their development. Finally, clinical issues will bediscussed, for example challenges regarding assessment, differentialdiagnostics, and recommended treatment procedures.In conclusion, sensory impairment, in most cases, is not a directcause to mental health problems but is a contributing factor to anincreased vulnerability towards developing mental health disorders.Communication and language development are found to be one of themost important components in prevention and treatment of mental healthproblems among individuals with sensory impairment.

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 978-1-62417-589-3

T3 - Psychiatry - Theory, Applications and Treatments

SP - 29

EP - 52

BT - Mental Health and Psychiatry

A2 - Wilson, Adam S.

A2 - Schneider, Michael S.

PB - Nova Science Publishers

CY - New York

ER -