It allows people to experience the sensation of sound, but does not restore normal hearing. The person can hear environmental sounds better, and hear rhythms and patterns of speech and use speech reading or lip reading more effectively. Retinitis Pigmentosa and age-related Macular Degeneration are the leading causes of blindness throughout the world. Braille typewriters, braille notepads, computer programs which use voice synthesizers to read the text on the screen and screen enlarging software are all adaptive devices for people with visual impairment who use computers. Guide dogs can be trained to recognize sounds such as a door bell, a telephone ringing, a smoke alarm, a baby crying, or other noises.
Guides dogs can also help with mobility.
Other people who are deafblind may choose to have a companion who acts as their eyes and ears, helping them to live more independently. Adaptive strategies to help people learn to wash and sort clothes, cook and otherwise live independently are taught at rehabilitation centers everywhere. Communication Learning to express our thoughts and feelings is the most elementary part of joining the human community. Families, teachers and caregivers are responsible for giving children access to language, and through that language, the world. If they do not, the child will be isolated and will not have the opportunity to grow and to learn.