Acquired deafblindness: the impact of this condition on the social relations of the individual

Abstract

This paper proposes a reflection about social relations that may be established by acquired deafblind individuals and the reflex of their sensory loss among their adaptation, context and interaction with others. There are few studies about deafblindness within an academic environment, mainly when it relates to acquired deafblindness. This problem justifies the need and emergence to increase our look to this problem. We used a qualitative approach and case study with the use of semi-structured interviews. From the interview with a individual with deafblind acquired, we performed the analysis into two main categories: (1) academic instruction, work and family (2) social life features: development, communication, leisure and friendship. As results, there was a perception that acquired deafblind people present difficulties on accepting their new sensorial condition and its implication in social interaction processes, facing the challenge of rehabilitation in communication and social relations.