Pro Touch. Introducing protactile principles to an adult with congenital deafblindness

Claeys, Timi (2025) Pro Touch. Introducing protactile principles to an adult with congenital deafblindness. Master thesis, Pedagogical and Educational Sciences.

Text Master-thesis-T.Claeys-S5705614-.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB)

Abstract

Title: Pro Touch. Introducing Protactile Principles to an Adult with Congenital Deafblindness. Problem: The unique natural language and bodily tactile manner of communication of a person with congenital deafblindness (CDB) is distinctive and authentic, shaped by their own embodied experiences. However, insight in natural bodily tactile language approaches to create attunement and dialogical reciprocity in the communication with persons with CDB is lacking. This study seeks to make a contribution by introducing principles of a natural bodily tactile language called protactile, to an adult with CDB. In protactile, the single modality of touch serves the purposes of linguistic information, attention-getting, co- presence and backchanneling, all simultaneously. Protactile has been received positively by people with acquired deafblindness and children with CDB. However, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding the introduction of protactile to adult persons with CDB and a dearth of insight on how to introduce principles of PT in the communication with this specific population. In this exploratory study, two PT principles, reciprocity and PT perspective, are introduced and integrated into the communicative dyad of an adult with CDB and his trusted communication partner. Research question: ‘How are the PT principles of Reciprocity and PT Perspective applied in the interaction between a communication partner and an adult with congenital deafblindness?’ Method: A mixed research method was used to investigate the interaction between the adult with CDB and one of his trusted communication partners. Their communication was videorecorded and then subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis, with the objective of gaining insight into the manner in which the PT principles are employed in the observed communicative dyad. Results: The implementation of the PT principles of reciprocity and PT perspective in a communicative dyad between an adult with CDB and a trusted communication partner was documented in this research. The PT principle reciprocity was introduced through backchanneling taps on the shoulder or the hand, backchanneling squeezes in the hands and the concept of immediate imitation. The principle PT perspective was introduced in the communication by asking the participation of the person with CDB through initiating actions: grasping the hand, tapping the hand. Following, tactile classifiers were co- constructed by utilising the hands, arm and body of the listener with CDB, and demonstrations were performed, on his body. The implementation of all categories in the communicative dyad was achieved, resulting in positive tactile dialogues. Conclusion: The present study provides a detailed exposition of the manner in which both principles are applied in the communicative dyad between a person with CDB and his communication partner. It has been demonstrated that PT can be utilised and holds a considerable potential for the development of communicative agency and intersubjectivity in persons with CDB. Follow up research on this new topic is recommended, on other adults with CDB, on children with CDB, in interventions concerning multi-party conversations, and overhearing situations with persons with CDB Key Words: congenital deafblindness (CDB), protactile (PT), reciprocity, PT perspective, intersubjectivity

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Damen, S. and Pranger-Boers, E.
Degree programme:	Pedagogical and Educational Sciences
Differentiation route:	Deafblindness [Master Pedagogical and Educational Sciences]
Date Deposited:	04 Jun 2025 11:58
Last Modified:	04 Jun 2025 11:58
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4912

Actions (login required)

View Item