Dementia Assessments for People with Deafness, Deafblindness or Visual Impairment

Deafblind Scotland were part of the working group of the Cross-party Group on Deafness. It aims to improve care pathways and support for people with dementia who also experience Deafness, Deafblindness or Visual Impairment, including BSL users. This working group, also supported by the Cross-party Group on Visual Impairment, is developing the first framework of sensory care standards for Scotland.

The report includes findings from the research as well as recommendations. 

Key information in the report includes: 

• Most GPs (76%) did not assess hearing and sight as part of a memory/dementia assessment, or only did so if deafness, deafblindness or visual impairment was suspected.

• Only 6% of GPs specified that they would assess both sight and hearing as an integrated part of assessing memory/dementia. 

• Most (60%) non-GPs and healthcare professionals did not know, or stated that sensory assessments would not be performed routinely. 

• Very few (10%) health and social care professionals referred to national guidelines for hearing and sight assessments for people with dementia, and there was more knowledge for eye care than hearing care. 

• 75% of respondents said audiology services do not offer support for hearing assessments as part of an established memory/dementia asessment pathway.

• Almost all respondents (92%) advised there was no direct referral route to or from ophthalmology and/or eye care services.

You can access the document below.

BSL version available below: