Zografou, Maria Rodoula (2022) Exploring the Quality of Life of people with Acquired Deafblindness in Greece. Master thesis, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences.
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Abstract
Deafblindness creates a specific condition more disabling than either deafness or blindness alone, as it combines both impairments to such profoundness, that it is not possible for them to counterbalance each other. Acquired deafblindness (ADB), which this research is focused on, is post-lingual deafblindness, meaning becoming aurally and visually impaired after the development of language. Apart from old age, the most common cause is found to be Usher Syndrome which accounts for approximately half of the people with acquired deafblindness. Acquiring both vision and hearing impairment can have an extensive impact on quality of life. According to Schalock and Keith (1993), Quality of Life can be defined through the four following domains: 1) personal life satisfaction, 2) competence and productivity, 3) empowerment and independence and 4) social belonging and community integration. There have been investigations conducted in several countries of the quality of life of people with Deafblindness as a result of Usher syndrome, which revealed variations in quality of life. Although research has illuminated quality of life of people with Usher, no study has examined this issue in Greece to date. Based on the four domains of Quality of life suggested by Schalok & Keith, three people with Usher Syndrome in Greece were interviewed in this study about quality of life. The results showed that the Greek participants perceived a lack of support provided by their state, necessary for participation and living a full life. However, they indicated that, they did experience having quality of life, as they truly enjoyed their lives and lived as independently as possible. It is discussed that their positive attitude, shows personal willpower and strength, and can also be explained as a type of coping strategy.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Damen, S. and Westberg, B.A.J. |
| Degree programme: | Pedagogical and Educational Sciences |
| Differentiation route: | Communication and Deafblindness [Master Pedagogical and Educational Sciences] |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Dec 2022 07:36 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Dec 2022 07:36 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1502 |
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