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A Remarkable Symposium

Fachgespräch

Experts in discussion: Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. med. Hanss Hatt, Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Hummel, Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Back


The preparation for this symposium that was held on 26 – 27 April 2019 on the premises of the Deafblind Service of the Protestant Church in Germany and organized by the foundation took almost three years. Key note speakers were Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. med. Hanns Hatt (Bochum), Prof. Dr. med Thomas Hummel (Dresden), both of which enjoy worldwide recognition as researchers in the area of "sense of smell", and Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Back (Dresden) with the latest research results in the area of "sense of touch". This symposium was the prelude for everything of importance in the future concerning the sense of smell and of touch in connection with the work with deafblind people. Research shows that smells and fragrances have a positive influence on our body.
With every breath we take, 20 million olfactory cells are responsible for smelling.
In the work with deafblind people the sense of smell has not been of importance, which is an omission that needs to be corrected.
Every sensory perception must be taught and trained, even the sense of smell and touch.
There should be lessons for deafblind children in "smelling".
Rehabilitation measures for adult deaf individuals with vision loss that leads to impaired vision or blindness should include specific teaching on and training of smell and touch.
The sense of smell could compensate the vision loss, e.g.: "fragrance is colour", the sense of touch could help in the learning of aesthetic perception.
It is to be expected that the handling of plants will lead to special results – whereby teaching and training are indispensable.
Scientific theses such as Bachelor and Master theses should be assigned.
We highly recommend the book by Hanns Hatt "Das Maiglöckchenphänomen" (only available in German) to gain knowledge in this area. The German Central Library for the Blind in Leipzig published this title in Braille from where it can be purchased.

 

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