Applications of Additive Manufacturing, or 3D Printing, in the Rehabilitation of Individuals With Deafblindness: A Scoping Study

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a promising tool to produce assistive technology. For instance, individuals with deafblindness (concurrent vision and hearing loss) could benefit from tactile AM-based products as touch may be their main gateway to access information. This study thus aimed to synthesize evidence on the current and potential practices involving AM in the context of deafblindness rehabilitation and to inform healthcare professionals and family caregivers on how AM can improve functioning and quality of life. A comprehensive literature search of ten databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Global Health, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, Web of Science, Engineering Village, and Scopus) was performed to identify sources focusing on the use of AM toward rehabilitation goals of individuals with deafblindness. Nine of 1,397 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal that AM can counter barriers to full accessibility by enabling professionals to produce customized adapted material and communication devices, thus assisting individuals with deafblindness in communication, mobility, and learning. However, this review highlights a need for more AM research, resources, and training: interdisciplinary collaborations with AM specialists thus appear essential in improving rehabilitation services with AM.

Cognitive map formation in the blind is enhanced by three-dimensional tactile information

“…In recent years, advances in 3D printing technology have spurred interest in the eld of vision rehabilitation 28 and have led many researchers to investigate the potential of 3D printers to automatically produce tactile maps [29][30][31][32] . Indeed, 3D scale models like those produced with 3D printing are viewed as bene cial and durable tools to convey spatial information and facilitate orientation in indoor and outdoor spaces [33][34][35] . Gual-Orti and colleagues [36][37][38][39] showed that volumetric symbols produced by 3D printing can be understood, easily memorized, and used to e ciently follow routes.…”