Prospects of the speech therapy intervetion in the diagnosis and prognostic of deafblindness

Abstract

Hearing and Vision are two important inputs for an individual to develop and keep full communication. There are illnesses, whose treatment, besides the clinical observations, need the application of qualitative assessment, such as illnesses and syndromes that affect hearing and vision simultaneously. The Cogan Syndrome, a sort of deafblindeness, is characterized by sensorineural hearing impairment, vestibular and ophthalmological alterations, in addition to systemic alterations. It is a rare syndrome triggered by an unknown factor that affects white young-adults, irrespective of gender. In this case study of a subject with Cogan Syndrome, we analysed qualitatively, social, personal and professional aspects, with emphasis on the communication effectiveness, before and after diagnosis. We propose criteria of assessment and family orientation to be establish by a multi-disciplinary team in similar cases and suggest guidelines for rehabilitation, specially speech therapy intervention and cochlear implant.