Study Reveals Challenges for People with Dual Sensory Loss

NIH-supported research highlights factors that shape navigation and independence for those with combined vision and hearing loss.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:08am

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A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health examines how people with dual sensory loss (combined vision and hearing loss) navigate their daily lives. The research, conducted in collaboration with the Minnesota Laboratory for Low Vision Research and the Envision Low Vision Rehabilitation Center, found that adults who experienced early onset blindness without hearing loss reported the highest confidence in their spatial localization abilities, while those who lost their hearing early in life had the lowest self-reported skills. The findings suggest opportunities for healthcare providers to tailor rehabilitation strategies and address barriers to improve quality of life for this population.

Why it matters

Dual sensory loss, the combined impact of vision and hearing impairment, is a significant public health issue that affects millions of adults in the U.S. Understanding how individuals with dual sensory loss perceive their own navigational abilities can help healthcare providers deliver more effective rehabilitation services and support independent living.

The details

The study recruited 58 adults with total or near-total blindness, 30 of whom self-reported hearing loss. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire to assess their perceived spatial localization abilities in everyday tasks. The researchers found that adults with early onset blindness but no hearing loss reported the highest confidence, while those who lost their hearing early in life had the lowest self-reported skills. Interestingly, the use of hearing aids did not improve perceived navigation abilities, suggesting current devices may not adequately address the needs of this population.

  • The study was conducted in 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.

National Institutes of Health

The government agency that provided funding support for the study.

Minnesota Laboratory for Low Vision Research

Research institution that collaborated on the study.

Envision Low Vision Rehabilitation Center

Rehabilitation center that collaborated 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 to better support people with dual sensory loss.

The takeaway

This study highlights the unique challenges faced by individuals with combined vision and hearing loss, and the need for more tailored rehabilitation strategies and assistive technologies to improve their confidence, independence, and quality of life.