Liens entre pathologies visuelles et auditives

Associated auditive and visual handicaps are encountered regularly, whether resulting from one of the many genetic syndromes, such as Usher's syndrome, or acquired, such as in great prematurity. However, the visual handicap of these deaf children expressing various syndromes is often difficult to grasp for the carers, although understanding their functional consequences is primordial to be able to adapt the rehabilitation strategies. Moreover, the visual channel is of capital importance for the deaf when using sign language, lip reading or “cued speech”. In these circumstances, visual damage greatly increases the auditive handicap. Over the last few years, the seriously deaf suffering from poor sight have been able to benefit considerably from cochlear implants, which restore quality hearing and permit good development of oral language, on condition that management intervenes very early on.