Book Chapter
Book Title
Akay, M. (Ed), Wiley Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
City
New Jersey
Year of Publication
2006
Abstract
Individuals with complete or partial loss of vision or hearing have a reduction of sensory input that affects their interaction with the environment. Approximately 3.5–6 million people have vision loss and 8 million have hearing loss. Different diseases and pathologies give rise to different forms of functional limitations. Individuals with loss of vision or hearing improve function through the use of sensory aids as a supplement to or a substitute for seeing or hearing in order to participate in society and to perform activities of daily living. Sensory aids range from individual medical and