Acquired Communication Impairment in Adults with Sensory Loss from Childhood

Individuals who have experienced sensory loss from childhood and later acquire a communication impairment are a highly complex and heterogeneous population. Communicating and working with such individuals can be incredibly challenging for professionals. Working effectively with clients with barriers to communication from multiple origins requires that professionals navigate layers of complexity in functioning, disability, and health to understand the impact of, and adapt according to, lifelong and recent differences in Body Functions, Body Structures, Activity and Participation, and Environmental Factors. In this chapter the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is used as a framework to support professionals in considering people with lifelong experience of sensory loss and an acquired communication impairment from a holistic viewpoint. Information is provided about key considerations to guide professionals in planning assessments and interventions that are responsive to these individuals’ communication needs. Three diverse case studies are presented to illustrate the impact that sensory loss and acquired communication impairment can have on opportunities, challenges, functioning, and experiences of disability.