By Annmaree Watharow, Moira Dunsmore, Damian Mellifont

Is a decline in vision and hearing just a "fact of life" for people as we age?

Dual sensory impairment is an under-explored and little understood type of disability, but one which can have an enormous impact on those living with it and their partners, families, and carers. The number of people who are living with impairments to both sight and hearing is rapidly increasing as the global population ages, yet the challenges faced as a result are largely invisible. The Third Sense explores the experiences of older adults living with multiple or dual sensory loss, the social consequences, barriers, and stigma faced by people and their loved ones.

Drawn from the lived experience of both the authors and their research participants, this book is necessary and urgent reading for medical practitioners, clinicians, health workers, and social care providers in practice and training; higher education students of Disability Studies, Medicine and related courses, Social Work and related courses, Sociology, and Cultural Anthropology.