There are few children born both deaf and blind (Andrew 1989 ). Within the population of young children diagnosed as deafblind, there are children with a varying degree of hearing and visual impairment, with or without additional disabilities, but also children with cortical visual and/or central auditory disabilities (Michael & Paul 1991 ).
First, deaf-blind children, similar to blind children in general, are likely to be delayed in their mental representation abilities and subsequently in their language development. Second, deaf-blind children with a significant hearing impairment tend to be delayed in their language development because they typically do not have access to language.
In more than 90% of families with a deaf child, the parents are hearing and usually have no knowledge of or experience with deafness. 1 The birth of a deaf child changes their world. Parents often experience the gamut of possible responses-from overprotection to rejection.
Early interactions and the socioemotional development of deaf infants. . Early Development and Parenting , 3 ( (1)): : pp. 51–60. Luiselli , JK ( (1992)). . . Assessment and treatment of self-injury in a deaf-blind child. . Journal of developmental and physical disabilities , 4 ( (3)): : pp. 219–226. Marks , SB ( (1998)). . .