Deaf individuals who work with computers present a high level of visual attention

• Published in: Dementia & neuropsychologia Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 123 - 128
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Paula Vieira, Ribas, Valdenilson Ribeiro, Ribas, Renata de Melo Guerra, de Melo, Teresinha de Jesus Oliveira Guimarães, Marinho, Carlos Antonio de Sá, Silva, Kátia Karina do Monte, de Albuquerque, Elizabete Elias, Ribas, Valéria Ribeiro, de Lima, Renata Mirelly Silva, Santos, Tuthcha Sandrelle Botelho Tavares
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento 01-06-2011; Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
• Subjects: attention; CLINICAL NEUROLOGY; computers; deaf; GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY; HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; NURSING; Original; PSYCHIATRY; PSYCHOLOGY; deaf; attention; computers; surdos; computadores; atenção
• ISSN: 1980-5764; 1980-5764
• DOI: 10.1590/S1980-57642011DN05020011

Some studies in the literature indicate that deaf individuals seem to develop a higher level of attention and concentration during the process of constructing of different ways of communicating.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of attention in individuals deaf from birth that worked with computers.
A total of 161 individuals in the 18-25 age group were assessed. Of these, 40 were congenitally deaf individuals that worked with computers, 42 were deaf individuals that did not work, did not know how to use nor used computers (Control 1), 39 individuals with normal hearing that did not work, did not know how to use computers nor used them (Control 2), and 40 individuals with normal hearing that worked with computers (Control 3).
The group of subjects deaf from birth that worked with computers (IDWC) presented a higher level of focused attention, sustained attention, mental manipulation capacity and resistance to interference compared to the control groups.
This study highlights the relevance sensory to cognitive processing.