Unit 357 Sensory Loss

• Healthcare
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Good morning everyone. For today's online session, we will be focusing on Unit 357 which about Understanding Sensory Loss. 

I would like to introduce Jules Graham from Ulster University and Paula Philpott, Head of Learning Academy here at SERC. They will be observing me facilitate this teaching and learning session today. 

Just some housekeeping rules

Intended Learning Outcomes 

1.  Individually, students will be given 10 minutes to identify in writing at least 2 impact of positive approaches to individuals with sensory loss. 

2. In pairs, students will be given 20 minutes to evaluate at least one strategy utilised within their own workplace that promotes independence and quality of life of service users with sensory loss. 

Sense of touch

Sense of sight

Sense of taste

Sense of hearing 

Sense of smell  

We have 5 senses and they are sense of touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight. We are able to understand what is going around us as we rely on our senses. 

The senses can very clearly and touchingly evoke memories from our past, freeing positive emotions like pleasure or happiness, or negative ones like fear or anger. A song can remind us of a special moment with a special person, or of a trip with friends. 

 

By showing this photo of fish and chips, what can you remember? 

Wait for 1 answer

Sensory Loss 

Refers to: 

• People who are deaf, deafened or has any form of hearing loss 
• People who are blind or partially sighted
• People who are deafblind: those with combined sight loss and hearing loss causes difficulties with communication, mobility and access to information. 

When we talk about about Sensory Loss

we refer to people who are deaf, deafened or has any form of hearing loss.

People who are blind or partially sighted.

People who are deafblind: those with combined sight loss and hearing loss causes difficulties with communication, mobility and access to information.

According to the Royal National Institute for the Blind, how many people are registered blind in NI (2017)?

1. 350
2. 800
3. 1800
4. 3, 500

According to Hearing Link, how many people in UK have been diagnosed with hearing loss?

1. 5 Million
2. 3 Million
3. 11 Million
4. 1 Million

AC

Positive approaches in supporting individuals with sensory loss 

Here are the approaches we need to apply in our practice to support individuals with sensory loss. 

1. person centred approach where our care is tailored fit to their individual needs and assessment

2. service users are referred to professionals such as audiologist, GP, optometrists, podiatrist for regular check up and review of medication and treatment

3.Home environment is adapted to the needs of the service user- the organisation contacts the Health Trust, Occupational Therapist and the social worker to determine if technological aids will be required to promote independence, safety and dignity. 

4. staff are aware how to use communication aids in place through training, mentoring, shadowing or formal supervisions

AC 2.2, 2.3

Impact of positive approaches to individuals with sensory loss

Think about the service users you support. what do you think will be the impact of applying positive approaches in your practice. How would they feel? How would they be able to live their lives and participate in everyday activities. Please provide me with at least two answers by typing your answers on your mobiles, laptops or tablets. 

*****LET THEM READ THEIR ANSWERS. CHOOSE AT LEAST 2 VOLUNTEERS

0

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF SIGHT LOSS? 

Congenital and acquired causes of sight loss 

Congenital	Acquired
Trauma to head during birth	Age-related Macular degeneration
Illness during pregnancy	Stroke and brain tumour
Genetic factors	Infections
Premature birth	Glaucoma

There are two types of sight loss. Firstly, the congenital type which pertains to possible head trauma during birth, illness during pregnancy, genetic factors and premature birth. 

When we talk about acquired sight loss, we refer to the effects of conditions like age-related macular degeneration,  infections, stroke, and glaucoma

Do you know some of the indicators of sight loss? 

Ask at least one volunteer

Indicators of sight loss 

• cautious movements 
• finding lights too bright or too dim 
• frequent changes to prescription glasses
• frequent trips and falls
•  bumping into objects 
• headaches, squinting to see

                                                                                                                       AC 4.1

Congenital and acquired 

causes of hearing loss 

Congenital	Acquired
Imperfect development of bones / passages of ear	Tinnitus - damage to the nerves
Infections during pregnancy	Infections such as otitis media
Auto-immune diseases	Untreated hard ear wax
Damage during birth	Environmental causes

Again there are type types of hearing loss. You have the congenital and acquired. 

Congenital hearing loss refers to imperfect development of ears as in the case of individuals with Down's Syndrome 

Side effects of Infections such as rubella or German measles 

ACQUIRED - TRAUMA TO THE HEAD, LIFESTYLE, REACTIONS TO MEDICATIONS

Causes of hearing loss 

Outer ear

can sometimes affect a person's hearing due to ear canal being full of wax or the canal is too small to collect sound waves

Middle ear

often involved in congenital and acquired hearing loss. 

Inner Ear

damage to the inner parts of the ear (nerves) prevents the amplification of sounds to the brain. 

AC 3.1

on your mobile phones or computers, you can click those icons which we call hotspots. There you can discover more information. Would anyone be interested to read about outer ear? middle ear? inner ear? 

Let's watch and listen to this video.

Indicators of hearing loss 

• individuals not responding when you speak with them 
• asking people to repeat what they say 
• difficulty hearing on the phone
• difficulty hearing with multiple people speaking in one room
• needing tv/ radio/ music louder 

                                                                                                                       AC 4.1

Paired Activity 

1. Identify at least one strategy / best practice utilised by own workplace in promoting independence and increased quality of life of individuals with either sight loss, hearing loss or those who are deafblind. 

2. Describe the benefits of using the identified strategy. Do you think this can be improved?  

                                                                                                       AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

PADLET 

Please use Padlet to record your discussions. 

padlet.com

SUPPORT FOR SENSORY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS, STAFF AND FAMILY MEMBERS 

1. Translator Services                                                                           AC 4.2

2. Charities such as RNIB / RNID /  Sense UK 

3. Sensory Support Teams from the Local Trust 

4. Information Leaflets from the GP

5. Support and information from audiologist, optometrist

6. Community Support Groups 

7. Training Courses - Makaton, British Sign Language, Braille

Intended Learning Outcomes 

1.  Individually, students will be given 5 minutes to identify in writing at least 2 impact of positive approaches to individuals with sensory loss. 

2. In pairs, students will be given 20 minutes to evaluate and report back at least one strategy utilised within their own workplace that promotes independence and quality of life of service users with sensory loss. 

This refers to people who are deaf/ deafened, people who are partially sighted or those who are deafblind.

1. Mobility Loss
2. Communication aid
3. Sensory Loss
4. Incontinence

What are the causes of sight loss?

1. Trauma, illness during pregnancy, glaucoma
2. lack of sleep
3. excellent healthcare
4. None of the above

What are some of the positive approaches in supporting individuals with sensory loss?

1. ignoring and humiliating service users
2. shouting at them so they can hear us
3. patronising them and not doing something about home adaptation
4. having person centred plan, training staff, referring them to professionals

How would you rate your learning on Sensory Loss unit?

5 Excellent

4 Very good

3 Good

2 Needs improvement

1 I did not learn anything

What would you take away from today's session?