A visit from the Deafblind Team in the Stockholm Region
On 27 May, Eikholt was visited by The dual sensory loss team in Region Stockholm. Through a day packed with professional presentations, exchange of experiences and practical demonstrations, a good foundation was laid for further cross-border collaboration.
The day began with a presentation and tour, before participants were divided into groups to visit the audiovisual clinic (AV clinic) and get an introduction to The Eikholt test from developer and audiographer Rolf Mjønes.
Trying out activities provides insight
On The AV clinic Senior advisor Magnus Tollefsrud provided insight into how new technology is implemented in practice. He particularly highlighted how learning occurs through trial and error in activities relevant to the individual.
This became a starting point for good conversations about orientation and mobility, and about why solutions that work in one activity do not necessarily work in another.
– Residual hearing is an untapped resource, emphasised Tollefsrud, pointing to the value of testing technology in real situations and the opportunities new technology provides.
Major differences and common challenges
There was also discussion about the differences between Norway and Sweden regarding the provision of assistive devices. At the same time, there was a strong recognition of the challenges related to assessment, particularly for individuals with congenital deafblindness.
Hearing is often deprioritised because there are so many other considerations to take into account. At the same time, Tollefsrud demonstrated how significant it can be when one actually gets the opportunity to work thoroughly with hearing.
– When we get the opportunity, completely magical moments sometimes arise, he said, sharing a story about a person who got to hear their mother’s voice for the first time.
Technology and adaptation
The exchange of experiences with hearing aids and associated technology was also a central theme. Artificial intelligence in hearing aids, connections to phones and how it is possible to start and stop phone calls directly from the hearing aid were some of the topics.
The conversations highlighted how crucial correct customisation is for achieving good results and how significant individual differences can be.
Close contacts also require follow-up.
Another key issue was the importance of involving family members in assessments and training, for example in the Eikholt test. When family members are allowed to participate in assessments and discussions, it helps to explain why a person functions well in some situations but not in others. This provides a solid foundation for further support in everyday life.
The value of collaboration
The afternoon was dedicated to presentations on how the Deafblind Team in Region Stockholm carries out its work.
The deafblind team in Region Stockholm offers services to people of all ages with combined vision and hearing impairments, and their close contacts. The team consists of a multidisciplinary environment and supports around 200 individuals, of whom approximately 50 are children. They work with deafblind rehabilitation, focusing on the individual's daily life and life course, and meet the users both at the office and in their own local environment.
Hilde M. Osen, Head of the Training Department, presented the training activities at Eikholt, the work of the counsellors, their rights, and research and development work, followed by discussions and an exchange of experiences.
The visit confirmed the usefulness of collaboration across professional communities and national borders, both in terms of professional development and the follow-up of individuals with combined vision and hearing loss.
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