ECL Sensory Support Service helps deafblind mother of two regain her independence

Caroline lives with Deafblindness after losing her hearing as a result of ear problems when she was young. She subsequently lost her vision due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension five years later.
Caroline’s hearing loss occurred following 15 surgeries after having glue ear, mastoiditis and cholesteatoma as a child. Despite all of the operations, she unfortunately lost her hearing aged 34. In 2018 she had a cochlear implant on her right side but was unable to have the implant in her left ear because of the damage to her ear canal.
Five years later, aged 39, she was also diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension - a rare neurological condition that causes pressure around the brain. This pressure resulted in a swelling of the optic nerves causing Caroline to completely lose the sight in her left eye and have no peripheral vision in her right eye.
The ECL Sensory team worked closely with Caroline, identifying what equipment and support would best help her at home as well as enable her to get out and about without assistance.