UKs First Deafblind Doctor - Are We Ready?
In the News
‘Alexandra Adams, 32, from Kent in the United Kingdom, has completed more than a decade of medical training and become the UK’s first deafblind doctor.
Her journey required finding new ways to do things that most doctors take for granted.
During examinations, Adams uses a Bluetooth-enabled stethoscope connected to her hearing aids, allowing her to listen to patients’ hearts and lungs. For other parts of physical examinations, she relies heavily on touch and adapted techniques.
Her achievement is more than a personal milestone.
It shows how determination, accessibility, and assistive technology can help break down barriers in professions that once seemed completely inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Adams has said that her biggest challenge was not necessarily her disability itself, but the doubts and assumptions other people placed on her.
For years, she had to prove that she belonged in medicine.
Now, she has.
Her story is a powerful reminder that limitations are not always created by our circumstances.
Sometimes, the biggest barriers are the expectations other people place on us.
Alexandra Adams didn't let those expectations define what she could become.
She kept going.
And today, she is a doctor’
Though she’s not completely blind (considered visually impaired) nor completely deaf, I understand people who may have concerns - but well done for achieving the qualifications & wish her well
It's quite an achievement and nobody can take this away from her , not meaning to be unkind but i would still worry if i was being examined for something life threatening , where examining x rays or visual charts is vital to spotting something abnormal
Even specialists with no impairments can miss some vital signs if not scrutinised enough
The hearing deficiency doesn't seem to be as much as a problem as technology is making up for that
Well she can't be any worse than some of the doctors we have today, good luck to her
martinlufc5637 agreed - we have done that really don’t seem to care…at least she will be working hard & enthusiastic…for now…
What an incredible achievement. If only we all had her courage and determination. I hope all goes well for her and people trust her.
It's a great achievement for her and she has to be commended on her hard work and dedication to become a doctor. Even so I would have reservations of her treating me or members of my family .
I am not sure blindness would enable her to treat symptoms that are visible on a persons body, (rashes, whether a skin sore is cancerous etc) but then who am I to judge, I am not a doctor. It seems she is not totally deaf if she can use hearing aids.
As long as she can do a job properly no problem. I personally can't see a completely blind and completely deaf person being able to do that job but it doesn't read like that is the case here she has some ability in both senses. I guess the issue could be long term these senses could degrade even more and then the ability to do her job would degrade with it. I do think we need to focus far more on costs of doing everything. People seem to think there is an unlimited pot of money but that pot is shrinking all the time and the government borrows to make up the difference. We have been doing that for maybe 30 years and borrowing just keeps increasing.
She’ll probably be better than the ones that have full vision and hearing at my surgery. They only hear what they want to hear. They still seem to have this god complex. One ignored a work colleague’s son who repeatedly went in and it was later discovered he had a brain tumour.
At my father’s surgery they go out of their way not to physically see anyone.
Well done to her for proving the neign sayers wrong. I can’t imagine what it must have been like having disabilities and being a woman in that environment.
I got told by HR that I can’t be promoted due to my health conditions and when I get a good result for our clients, my best mate and me always joke about that it’s amazing what the unwell people can do. You have to joke otherwise you’ll cry.
With the technology aids nowadays I’m sure she would get on well as she’s already prove by passing her exams.
Good luck to her!
That is certainly a very impressive achievement, completing a medical degree is super tough on it's own, but to do so with the disabilities this lady had really is almost beyond belief. If she has been deemed safe to practice then I personally wouldn't have a problem if she was my doctor, I don't think.
I wish all the best being a Doctor being deft & blind doctor. She is amazing to do what she as to become a doctor, people with disabilities are very amazing to overcome there disabilities.
Fair play to her, showing that if you really want something nothing should stop you or you shouldn't let anything get in your way 
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