Sensory Impairment

Question 1

What is sensory impairment

Answer 1

When one or more of a person’s senses are no longer normal

Question 2

What do those with sensory impairment often have

Answer 2

low confidence

require support

Question 3

What are the key care needs

Answer 3

communication 
accessing services
mobility
accessibility and isolation
rehabilitation

Question 4

What are the groups we forget

Answer 4

older people and learning disabled

Question 5

What is the leading cause of vision impairment

Answer 5

uncorrected refractive errors

cataracts

Question 6

How is refractive error corrected

Answer 6

glasses

Question 7

What are the inequalities with visual impairments

Answer 7

prevalence of sight loss is associated with having a lower income

Question 8

What ethnic groups are more at risk of some of the leading causes of sight loss

Answer 8

black african and caribbean - more at risk of developing glaucoma and diabetic eye

south asian - risk of diabetic eye

Question 9

What are symptoms of visual impairment

Answer 9

severe, sudden eye pain
recurrent pain in or around the eye
hazy, blurred or double vision
seeing flashes of light or sudden bright floating spots

Question 10

What are cataracts

Answer 10

clouding of the lens of the eye which prevents clear vision

majority related to aging process

Question 11

What is age related macular degeneration (AMD)

Answer 11

effects older people

involves the loss of persons central field of vision

Question 12

When does AMD occur

Answer 12

when the macular or central retina develops degenerative lesions

Question 13

What is the macula

Answer 13

a tiny area within the retina at the back of the eye

Question 14

Describe how AMD occurs

Answer 14

the cells of the macula are photoreceptor cells which means they’re sensitive to light and play a vital role in our ability to see details and colour
the cells become damaged and scarred

Question 15

What is wet macular degeneration

Answer 15

causes severe sight loss in matter of months

can develop rapidly, resulting in more sudden sight loss

growth of new vessels under retina which then break and leak into the macula

causes scarring to develop within the macula cells

Question 16

What is dry macular degeneration

Answer 16

bilateral condition
90% of cases
thought to have a hereditary element and myopia may be a predisposing factor

GRADUAL LOSS OF CENTRAL VISION

person becomes unable to recognize people bc cannot see their faces clearly
layers of the macula become progressively thinner, causing it to function less effectively

Question 17

What is a glaucoma regarded as

Answer 17

can be regarded as a group of diseases that have a common end point

Question 18

How do glaucoma occur

Answer 18

caused by fluid building up in front part of eye which increases pressure inside

symptoms generally aren’t noticed until there is marked visual loss

bilateral condition but affects 1 eye more than other

sight will never recover

Question 19

What are the 2 most common forms of glaucoma

Answer 19

primary open angle glaucoma

angle closure glaucoma

Question 20

What is primary open angle glaucoma

Answer 20

slow and insidious onset

caused by the drainage channels in the eye becoming gradually clogged over time

Question 21

What is angle closure glaucoma

Answer 21

less common
more acute
caused by drainage of the eye becoming suddenly blocked
can raise pressure inside eye v quickly

Question 22

What is diabetic retinopathy

Answer 22

is composed of a characteristic group of lesions found in the retina of individuals having had diabetes mellitus for several years

Question 23

How does diabetic retinopathy occur

Answer 23

in the early stages vascular occlusion and dilations occur

it progresses into proliferative retinopathy with the growth of new blood vessels

Question 24

What is the cause of diabetic retinopathy

Answer 24

Over time, continuously high blood sugar levels can cause the blood vessels to become blocked or to leak

This damages the retina and stops it from working usually in 3 mains stages:

Question 25

What are the 3 mains stages in diabetic retinopathy

Answer 25

background retinopathy pre-proliferative retinopathy proliferative retinopathy

Question 26

What are risk factors for diabetic retinopathy

Answer 26

``` duration of diabetes level of glycemia presence of high blood pressure dependence on insulin pregnancy levels of selected serum lipids nutritional genetic factors ```

Question 27

What is hemianopia

Answer 27

blindness in one half of the visual fields is a functional defect which can affect the right or left side sight loss can be upper lower left or right

Question 28

What is hemianopia caused by

Answer 28

this loss can be caused by a variety of medical conditions - stroke being the most common

Question 29

How is visual impairment prevented

Answer 29

``` regular eye exams protect eyes from the sun protective eye wear at work know family history seek treatment quickly stop smoking eating healthy and managing obesity ```

Question 30

What are difficulties that those with a visual impairment would experience

Answer 30

not being able to access printed material difficulty accessing the internet/electronic devices difficulty in getting to destinations and around the built environment accessing unfamiliar buildings and environments lack of awareness of others as to how to help

Question 31

How do you maximize communication for people with visual impairment

Answer 31

always identify yourself even in known surroundings always use names to identify people - especially in a group situation keep the visually impaired person informed of people moving around and/or leaving the room tell them what you are doing before you do it do not use non verbal communication provide information in alternate formats prepare the surgery appropriately arrange for alternative formats to be provided take time to get the environment right

Question 32

What is the functional impact of hearing impairment

Answer 32

ability to communicate with others spoken language development is often delayed in children adverse effect on the academic performance of children increased rates of grade failure and greater need for education assistance access to suitable accommodation is important for optimal learning experiences

Question 33

What is the social and emotional impact of hearing impairment

Answer 33

exclusion from communication can have a significant impact on everyday life causing feels of loneliness, isolation and frustration

Question 34

What are congenital causes of hearing loss

Answer 34

maternal rubella, syphilis or certain other infections low birth weight birth asphyxia inappropriate use of particular drugs during pregnancy severe jaundice during neonatal period

Question 35

What are acquired causes of hearing loss

Answer 35

infectious diseases including meningitis measles and mumps chronic ear infections collection of fluid in the ear medicines such as those used in tx of neonatal infections, malaria, drug resistant tuberculosis and cancers injury to head or ear excessive noise, including occupational noise recreational exposure to loud sounds aging wax or foreign bodies blocking the ear canal

Question 36

What are signs of hearing impairment

Answer 36

inactivity reduced development of speech and language skills deterioration of speech reduced social and emotional development irritability autistic like behavior confusion

Question 37

What are clues to a hearing problem

Answer 37

``` unawareness of surroundings failure to respond to sound asking for sentences to be repeated speaking in an unusually loud voice change in tone withdrawing from life spending time alone ```

Question 38

What are the types of hearing aids

Answer 38

behind the ear heading aid in the ear hearing aid in the canal hearing aid completely in the canal hearing aid

Question 39

How do you maximize communication with someone who has a hearing impairment

Answer 39

ask if they want to use a loop system try to establish preferred communication can book BSL interpreters face the person, don't turn away use clear speech with normal lip pattern use finger spelling speak at ear level repeat, rephrase write things down ensure there is no echo ask people to repeat important info back to u make sure hearing aids switched on reduce background noise allow extra time prepare an appropriante room book the necessary communication support

Question 40

Describe the first stage in diabetic retinopathy (background retinopathy)

Answer 40

tiny bulges develop in blood vessels which may bleed slightly but this doesn't affect vision

Question 41

Describe the second stage of diabetic retinopathy (pre-proliferative retinopathy)

Answer 41

more severe and widespread changes affect the blood vessels, including more significant bleeding into the eye

Question 42

Describe the third stage of diabetic retinopathy (proliferative retinopathy)

Answer 42

scar tissue and new blood vessels, which are week and bleed easily, develop on the retina and this can result in some loss of vision