• A new book created by a Charles Sturt University expert encourages readers to think about sensory loss and communication as part of a biopsychosocial view of health
• The book is a valuable resource for scholars, educators, and clinicians which offers evidence-based practices to support work with individuals experiencing sensory loss (vision/hearing)
• A world-renowned expert says it is a ‘treasure’ that epitomises the inclusion of ‘everyone’ and upholds everyone’s right to communication

A Charles Sturt University academic has initiated and edited a unique book for health and education students and professionals that explores communication differences in individuals with sensory impairment or loss.

Thirty experts from numerous universities and institutions around the world co-authored chapters in the new book Communication and Sensory Loss: Global Perspectives which was initiated and edited by Adjunct Associate Professor Kathryn (Kate) Crowe (pictured left) in the Charles Sturt Faculty of Arts and Education Early Childhood Interdisciplinary Research Group.

Professor Crowe is based in Reykjavik, Iceland, and is also a member of the Charles Sturt Speech-Language-Multilingualism (SLM) Team.

Professor Crowe said the book is unique because it combines a strength-based approach within the framework of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.

“This book goes beyond describing sensory loss to encourage readers to think about sensory loss and communication as part of a biopsychosocial view of health and the intersecting identities of the clients and families that they service,” Professor Crowe said.

“This is an important resource for professionals because it aims to provide any professional who may work with an individual with sensory loss with a perspective on how to think about and adapt their communication to make the interaction as positive and fruitful as possible.”

Professor Crowe emphasised the book ensures consideration of perspectives from contexts with more and less access to resources and support.

“Every chapter is co-authored by a person with experience living and/or working in low-resource contexts (Global South/low-income countries) and high-resources contexts (Global North/high income countries),” she said.

“And many of our authors bring their own lived experience of hearing loss/deafness, vision impairment/blindness or deaf-blindness.”

Professor McLeod said this book is a valuable resource for scholars, educators and clinicians interested in evidence-based practices to support their work with individuals experiencing sensory loss (vision/hearing).

“Communication and Sensory Loss: Global Perspectives is a treasure because it epitomises the inclusion of ‘everyone’, upholding everyone’s right to communication. Readers will be challenged and supported to communicate fully with everyone,” Professor McLeod concluded in her Foreword to the book.

Contributing authors are from Saudi Arabia, United States, Iceland, South Africa, the Netherlands, Fiji, India, Sweden, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Rwanda, Croatia, Vanuatu and Japan.

This includes a co-authored chapter (‘Intersecting Identities and Experience of Sensory Loss’) by Fiji-based Dr Suzanne C Hopf in the Charles Sturt School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Science.

The Foreword is by Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod in the Charles Sturt School of Education in Bathurst NSW.

Communication and Sensory Loss: Global Perspectives is published by Routledge (2024).