Unit SS MU 3.1 Understand sensory loss It is essential that you understand the differing needs of people with sensory loss and how you can improve on your work practices to support and empower them. There are significant numbers of people in the UK who have a sensory loss. This can mean sight loss, hearing loss or dual sensory loss. This unit will introduce you to the impact of sensory loss on the person. With a single sensory loss, the person normally relies on the other senses to compensate. However, people missing both senses have a unique disability which requires specialist communication skills alongside ongoing support. Throughout this unit, you will encounter many terms for sensory loss. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) suggest that when talking about a person with a hearing loss, it is good practice to use the terms ‘Deaf’, ‘hard of hearing’ or ‘having a hearing loss’. British Sign Language (BSL) users use a capital ‘D’ in Deaf to highlight that they belong to the Deaf community. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) use the terms ‘blind’ or ‘partially sighted’, and Sense advise that hearing and vision loss is termed ‘deafblindness’. In this unit you will learn about: the factors that impact on an individual with sensory loss the importance of effective communication for individuals with sensory loss the main causes and conditions of sensory loss how to recognise when an individual may be experiencing sight and/or hearing loss and actions that may be taken. 1 Level 3 Health & Social Care Diploma Understand sensory loss Unit SS MU 3.1 1. Understand the factors that impact on an individual with sensory loss Approximately 95 per cent of the information about the Many blind and partially sighted people lose the ability world around us comes from our hearing and sight. We to see gestures and facial expressions, which are read books, magazines and correspondence, we talk to important parts of communication. It becomes difficult each other face to face or on the telephone and we listen for them to know when someone is speaking to them or to our music on the television or the radio. The even when the other person has walked away. Written environmental information lets us know what is going on communication can be difficult for a person with low – body language and facial expressions, conversations, vision. Sometimes a larger font is needed, a different- computer keys tapping, lawn mowers being used in coloured paper for colour contrasting or the information gardens and so on. To understand the world around us on a disk or tape. Communication by email or text can we rely a great deal on our senses. When people have be accessed by having speech programs installed on a any sensory loss, then their mobility and communication computer or mobile telephone. are greatly affected. This can lead to increased loneliness and even isolation in some cases. Activity 2 Activity 1 Sight loss Sit on a chair in a crowded room and observe what is Your sensory awareness going on around you. Take ten minutes and write down everything you see 1. Do you hear people talking? and hear. 2. Can you see people walking across the room? 1. How many times did you use your hearing? 3. Is the television or radio on? 2. How many times did you use your sight? 3. How many times did you use your other senses? Close your eyes and sit in the same chair. Try to imagine the impact of sensory loss on your 4. Now what can you see? day-to-day life. 5. What can you hear? 6. Do you recognise people’s voices or the way they walk across a room? 1.1 How a range of factors can 7. How different do you feel when you can not see? 8. Would you be able to walk around the room impact on individuals with safely? sensory loss Hearing loss interferes with face-to-face communication Impact on communication and can often cause older people to lose interest in Sensory loss can often be a ‘hidden’ disability which can everyday activities and in turn make them more likely to frequently lead to isolation and frustration at not being miss information given by their doctor, carer or family able to communicate efficiently with other people. With member. Older people who are losing their hearing hearing loss, day-to-day activities such as hearing a often rely on their eyesight to compensate for this. In doorbell, using the telephone, watching television or conversation, they will watch the other person’s face taking part in conversations can produce feelings of and lips, and use clues about the context to try to inadequacy. Conversely, not being able to distinguish respond appropriately. faces, read the time on a clock or drive can produce the same feelings in a person who has vision loss. Having a dual sensory loss compounds the frustration and isolation a person feels when trying to communicate effectively. 2 Understand sensory loss Unit SS MU 3.1 able to access information and should be afforded the Activity 3 opportunity to do so privately and independently. Hearing loss Impact on familiar layouts and routines Try turning the volume down very low on the TV, so you can just hear a murmur. Now try to follow what is Sight plays a major role in maintaining orientation and going on in the programme. people can lose a sense of what is around them and where they are. Although listening to sound can be useful, 1. How frustrating was it not to be able to hear what it can move and then echo off surroundings; therefore it is was happening? not as confined or exact as vision. People with vision loss 2. What help did you need to follow what was may no longer be sure where things are. A feeling of being going on? separate and an increasing sense of isolation can occur because the brain is receiving less stimulation. However, people who are losing both their hearing and People who are sighted have an immediate sense of their vision will find it difficult to look for clues in the what is in the environment beyond the task taking place. conversation. This will be particularly severe with a Without vision, hearing can provide some information, person who has central vision loss, as this then may but only about people or objects producing sound. Also, completely remove the ability to read lips or to see peripheral vision gives people no indication that there are faces. To avoid deafblind people becoming devoid of other people and objects around, which can cause knowledge about the outside world or having a limited confusion when they come into the visual area. An contact with a variety of other people, support should extensive loss of vision can result in: be obtained from a range of sources, such as health • an inability to negotiate the environment services, social services, specialist organisations and • a loss of sense of freedom support groups. • a loss of security • a loss of control in their environment. Impact on information These effects can make people feel very dependent on One of the needs of people with a sensory impairment others. is to be able to obtain information. Whether it is written, spoken or signed information, it needs to be in an Hearing loss causes its own problems with difficulty accessible format. hearing information, following conversation or asking for directions. This can be very isolating for somebody if A person who has vision loss wants to be able, for their usual routine is to listen to a programme on the example, to look at their own bank statement, to know radio, talk to people on the telephone or go for coffee what is available on a menu, to be able to participate with friends in a noisy restaurant. Hearing loss impacts in local activities or events or to be able to read/write greatly on gathering information and making informed a personal letter. Additionally, someone else reading choices. their written communication in the form of lists, appointments and private correspondence has a People need to have confidence in moving safely around detrimental effect on maintaining the person’s dignity their own homes and immediate local area, and also to and confidentiality. Access to written information go further afield. This may be with or without a specifically for people with a vision loss is not readily recognised mobility aid, such as a white cane, red and available and information is not forthcoming. white cane (to signify dual sensory loss) or guide dog. The cost and lack of transport will be added obstacles Furthermore, people with a hearing loss may need for many people. access to information that is not in a written format – by telephone, face-to-face and signed information. The For some people, the need to have assistance in the impact on information is greatly enhanced when a person form of sighted guiding is essential. has a dual sensory loss. It is important for all of us to be able to access information independently and not to have to rely on someone else. This removes or reduces independence and privacy. Everybody has the right to be 3 Level 3 Health & Social Care Diploma Understand sensory loss Unit SS MU 3.1 home to doctors, banks or leisure activities. They enable Activity 4 the person to make use of their remaining sight and Guiding techniques hearing, and play an important role in reducing stress and increasing confidence.