EXPERIENCE OF USING VIBROTACTILE AIDS WITH THE PROFOUNDLY DEAFENED

This is a summary of clinical experience and research findings gathere d from using vibrotactile aids over 7 years. This interest grew from a research project to evaluate four wrist-worn vibrotactile aids for th e rehabilitation of the profoundly deaf. To facilitate this, a trainin g programme was developed to help patients get the most from the aid. Having found that the RNID/Summit Tam vibrotactile aid was the most ap propriate, this has been fitted to over 50 patients. The results of th e comparative trial, an evaluation of our methods and a discussion of our clinical experience using vibrotactile aids with profoundly deafen ed patients are presented.