Dual Sensory Loss Poses Navigation Challenges for Adults

Study finds hearing loss onset is key factor in self-reported sound localization abilities for blind individuals

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:02am

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A recent PLOS One study led by researchers at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine found that time of hearing loss onset is a key determinant of patient confidence and self-reported sound localization abilities, even in individuals who use hearing aids or have received vision rehabilitation training. The study highlights factors that shape how people with dual sensory loss (combined hearing and vision loss) engage with their environments and identifies opportunities for healthcare practitioners to improve patient quality of life.

Why it matters

The study provides important insights into the challenges faced by the millions of adults in the U.S. living with dual sensory loss, which can significantly impact their ability to live independently. Understanding how patients perceive their own sound localization skills can help healthcare providers tailor rehabilitation strategies to build confidence and support targeted skill development.

The details

The study recruited 58 adults with total or near-total blindness, with 28 self-reporting typical hearing and 30 self-reporting hearing loss. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire to assess their perceived and performed spatial localization abilities. The researchers found that adults who experienced early onset blindness without hearing loss reported the highest confidence in their skills, while confidence was lower among adults who were blind and reported hearing loss, and those who lost their hearing early in life reported the lowest sound localization abilities.

  • The study was published on March 12, 2026.

The players

Yingzi Xiong

Barbara Simerl Rising Professor of Low Vision at the Wilmer Eye Institute and lead researcher on the study.

Prachi Agrawal

First author of the study and postdoctoral research fellow in the Xiong lab.

Wilmer Eye Institute

Part of Johns Hopkins Medicine and the lead institution on the study.

Minnesota Laboratory for Low Vision Research

Collaborated with the Wilmer Eye Institute on the study.

Envision Low Vision Rehabilitation Center

Collaborated with the Wilmer Eye Institute on the study.

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What they’re saying

“Controlled lab studies exist, but they do not fully capture how blind individuals with hearing loss navigate real-world environments, or why they may hesitate to enter certain complex spaces despite having measurable sound localization skills.”

— Yingzi Xiong, Barbara Simerl Rising Professor of Low Vision at the Wilmer Eye Institute

“People with dual sensory loss may feel less confident or less motivated to adopt new hearing strategies for everyday tasks. By identifying these barriers, providers can tailor rehabilitation strategies to build confidence and support targeted skill development.”

— Prachi Agrawal, Study first author and postdoctoral research fellow in the Xiong lab

“Hearing aids are a common intervention used for patients with hearing loss, but currently available devices primarily focus on improving speech perception. Here, we saw that patients did not report on-the-market hearing aids were helpful for environment navigation, similar to our previous research.”

— Yingzi Xiong

What’s next

The researchers suggest that clinicians should account for hearing status during vision rehabilitation training and carefully identify areas of fear or hesitancy that may be addressed through individualized care.

The takeaway

This study highlights the significant challenges faced by individuals with dual sensory loss and the need for healthcare providers to develop more tailored rehabilitation strategies to improve their quality of life and ability to live independently.