Sense issues factsheet on deafblind

Sense, the charity for the deaf and partially sighted, has issued a factsheet for health professionals on how best to communicate with deafblind patients.
The factsheet follows a report by the charity and Deafblind UK which discovered that many deafblind people find it hard to communicate with doctors, and avoid seeking medical advice due to difficulties communicating and poor treatment.
Benedict Lewin-Leigh, head of campaigns and policy at Sense, said: ÔCommunicating with a deafblind person is very simple and can make a tremendous difference to the quality of the treatment they receive. Some may be able to hear you speak if you talk slowly and clearly. Others may use ÒfingerspellingÓ or prefer to have block capital letters spelt out on their hand.Õ
He said Sense hoped the new factsheet would be able to help healthcare professionals to become more familiar with the needs of deafblind patients.