The development of this publication reflects the combined expertise, experience, and commitment of professionals who have dedicated many years to advancing our understanding of sensory processing, cerebral visual impairment, auditory processing, cognition, and deafblindness.
The authors bring together perspectives from clinical practice, research, education, and multidisciplinary assessment. Their collective work represents a unique convergence of knowledge from fields that have often developed separately, yet which are increasingly recognised as deeply interconnected in the lives of children and adults with complex sensory and neurodevelopmental needs.
Particular acknowledgement is due to Jude Nicholas, whose longstanding work in cognitive assessment and deafblindness has contributed significantly to our understanding of how meaningful assessment can reveal strengths, abilities, and developmental potential that may otherwise remain hidden. John Ravenscroft's international leadership and research in childhood visual impairment and cerebral visual impairment have helped shape contemporary understanding of brain-based visual processing difficulties and their impact on everyday functioning. Anne Schoone has contributed extensive expertise in dynamic assessment, deafblindness, and CHARGE syndrome, continuously emphasising the importance of recognising individual learning potential and development. Christine Sauvé Guindon has, through her work in deafblindness and cerebral visual impairment, helped broaden the discussion regarding the relationships between visual and auditory processing and their implications for functional deafblindness. [researchgate.net], [frontiersin.org], [edwebprofi...s.ed.ac.uk], [deafblindi...tional.org], [cdpsurdicecite.org], [ca.linkedin.com] Together, the authors challenge us to look beyond traditional diagnostic categories and consider how brain-based auditory and visual processing influence participation, communication, development, and quality of life. Their work represents an important contribution to the growing international effort to better understand the complex realities of individuals whose challenges cannot be explained through sensory measurements alone.
It is our hope that this publication will encourage continued dialogue, collaboration, and research across disciplines, and that it will ultimately contribute to more accurate assessments, more responsive services, and a deeper understanding of functional deafblindness and brain-based sensory processing differences.