Communication between Children with Deafness, Blindness and Deafblindness and their Social Partners: An Intersubjective Developmental Perspective

Abstract

Trevarthen’s theory of innate intersubjectivity is relevant to understanding communication problems in children with sensory disabilities. Trevarthen and Aitken used the term “intersubjectivity” to describe “the ability of humans to detect and change each other’s minds and behavior”. When children lack auditory and/or visual means of interaction, they may not be able to fully develop intersubjectivity, which impedes the development of more complex interpersonal communication. This article presents a review of 31 studies about intersubjectivity in children with sensory disabilities. The results indicate that the intersubjective development of children with sensory disabilities is often delayed. The studies also describe similar strategies for mediating intersubjectivity in children with sensory disabilities and in typical children, but say that specific adaptations may be needed. From an intersubjectivity perspective, symbolic communication delays in children with sensory disabilities may be improved through specific, purposeful forms of social interaction.

Keywords:

• blindness
• deafness
• deafblindness
• interaction
• interpersonal communication
• review
• sensory disabilities
• special education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contribution of Marijse Pol of Stichting Bartiméus.

Additional information

Funding

The work for this manuscript was funded by Inzicht/ZonMW (Dutch Organisation for Research and Innovation in Health Care) and Vereniging Bartiméus Sonneheerdt (Bartiméus Sonneheerdt Foundation, the Netherlands). The findings reported here are based on research conducted as part of the project High Quality Communication for people with congenital deafblindness, funded by the ZonMW/InVision foundation [Grant No.60-00635-98-085] and by the Bartiméus Sonneheerdt Foundation [Grant No. 5781202], and no restrictions have been imposed on free access to, or publication of, the research data. Opinions reflect those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agency(ies). The author(s) had no financial or other conflicts of interest.