EMDR with Patients That Have Sensory Loss, Including Patients That are Preverbal Deaf/Deaf-Blind – What Are The Challenges?
Tracks
Studio 2
| Saturday, June 6, 2026 |
| 9:00 - 10:30 |
| Studio 2 |
Overview
Mette Uthus, Britta Bürker & Lone Gerhardt (Norway)
Speaker
Mette Uthus
Head Of Emdr Norway
EMDR with patients that have sensory loss, including patients that are preverbal deaf/deaf-blind – What are the challenges?
Abstract
Authors
Mette P Uthus1,
Britta S. Bürker2,
Lone Abild Gerhardt3
1clinical psychologist in family therapy and psychotherapy and head of the Regional out-patient unit for adults with sensory loss at St Olavs Hospital. Østre Rosten 55, 7075 Tiller, Trondheim.Norway
2MD, PhD, senior physician, Norwegian National Unit for Sensory Loss and Mental Health Division of Mental Health and Addiction Oslo University Hospital
3clinical psychologist and native signer, National Unit of Sensory Loss and mental Health, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
It is well known that stress-related mental health issues are higher among people with sensory loss in general, and that prevalence of trauma experiences is significantly higher among individuals with
sensory loss than in the general population. A Norwegian patient-study found that 85% (N=62) reported trauma related diagnoses (Øhre,Uthus et al. (2015)), and a study by Anderson & Craig (2016) found a high number of deaf-specific traumas- It is comparable findings for individuals with vision impairment (Bonsaksen et al. (2022), Brunes & Heir (2021)). This indicates a vulnerability living with sensory loss when it comes to trauma and stress-related disorders. In Norway, EMDR has been used for the last 18 years in specialized psychiatric out-patient units with sensory loss. We want to share our experiences and show how EMDR seems to be very useful for many reasons in this population of patients.
The workshop (90 minutes) will demonstrate through cases, videos and roleplay. And we will cover when and how adjustment is needed and when to go with the protocol in EMDR with this heterogenous group of patients.
Learning objectives: using sign-language- interpreters in trauma therapy, EMDR protocol for sensory loss, how Trauma is related to patients with sensory loss, deaf-spesific traumas, challenges for the therapists
Keywords: deaf, hard-of-hearing, trauma, EMDR
Mette P Uthus1,
Britta S. Bürker2,
Lone Abild Gerhardt3
1clinical psychologist in family therapy and psychotherapy and head of the Regional out-patient unit for adults with sensory loss at St Olavs Hospital. Østre Rosten 55, 7075 Tiller, Trondheim.Norway
2MD, PhD, senior physician, Norwegian National Unit for Sensory Loss and Mental Health Division of Mental Health and Addiction Oslo University Hospital
3clinical psychologist and native signer, National Unit of Sensory Loss and mental Health, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
It is well known that stress-related mental health issues are higher among people with sensory loss in general, and that prevalence of trauma experiences is significantly higher among individuals with
sensory loss than in the general population. A Norwegian patient-study found that 85% (N=62) reported trauma related diagnoses (Øhre,Uthus et al. (2015)), and a study by Anderson & Craig (2016) found a high number of deaf-specific traumas- It is comparable findings for individuals with vision impairment (Bonsaksen et al. (2022), Brunes & Heir (2021)). This indicates a vulnerability living with sensory loss when it comes to trauma and stress-related disorders. In Norway, EMDR has been used for the last 18 years in specialized psychiatric out-patient units with sensory loss. We want to share our experiences and show how EMDR seems to be very useful for many reasons in this population of patients.
The workshop (90 minutes) will demonstrate through cases, videos and roleplay. And we will cover when and how adjustment is needed and when to go with the protocol in EMDR with this heterogenous group of patients.
Learning objectives: using sign-language- interpreters in trauma therapy, EMDR protocol for sensory loss, how Trauma is related to patients with sensory loss, deaf-spesific traumas, challenges for the therapists
Keywords: deaf, hard-of-hearing, trauma, EMDR
