Abstract
In order to describe and understand possible problems associated with deafblindness we applied a functional analysis case formulation strategy and Functional Analytic Clinical Case Diagrams (FACCD). We collected clinical assessment data from deafblind persons who were experiencing multiple psychological problems as reported by their healthcare professionals. The data were collected after the healthcare professionals were trained in functional analyses and in applying FACCD. The 21 deafblind persons assessed by healthcare professionals were reported to have 3–11 psychological problems. Two case examples are given to illustrate the complexity of a deafblind person's life situation and the functional relations among problems and possible causal variables. Thus, in addition to vision, hearing and communication problems, deafblindness can be associated with other psychological problems that may benefit from more precise psychological assessment and treatment. We found that the functional analysis and FACCD wer...
Highlights
In Finland there are approximately 800 individuals, who have dual sensory disabilityÁdeafblindness.1 the term ‘‘deafblindness’’ refers to total deafness and blindness most of the individuals having these impairments still have residual hearing and/or vision (The Finnish Association of the Deafblind 1996; Kaitalo 1990)
The purpose of this article was to illustrate the application of functional analysis and Functional Analytic Clinical Case Diagrams (FACCD) (Haynes, O’Brien, and Kaholokula 2011) to describe possible psychological problems among deafblind persons having multiple problems, and to give examples of how a functional analysis approach to case formulation and FACCDs could assist in the rehabilitation and treatment of persons who are deafblind
The assessments and functional analyses made by the staff members indicated that some deafblind persons may have a relatively large number of psychological problems significantly affecting their quality of life and that the array of problems and their causal relations differed among deafblind persons
Summary
In Finland there are approximately 800 individuals, who have dual sensory disabilityÁdeafblindness. the term ‘‘deafblindness’’ refers to total deafness and blindness most of the individuals having these impairments still have residual hearing and/or vision (The Finnish Association of the Deafblind 1996; Kaitalo 1990). He was born deaf and had gradually been losing sight so that he had only a narrow visual field left His native tongue was Finnish Sign Language Finnish had been the language of his childhood family. He had stopped work because of his vision deterioration and was on a pension He lived at a residential centre which provided housing facilities and communication through sign language. Twice a month, he had a heavy drinking period which would last for 4Á5 days and which sometimes caused vision and sensory delusions with consequent anxiety He had difficulties with social relationships because of violent behaviour and bothering people with asking for money during drinking periods. It indicated the strong association between language deficits and drinking problems. His deficits in communication and fear of losing his sight affected his drinking, so drinking would be used to reduce this anxiety and feelings of distress
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