WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SENSORY IMPAIRMENT?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SENSORY IMPAIRMENT?
‘Sensory impairment’ or ‘sensory loss’ are umbrella terms used to describe loss of the distance senses i.e. sight and hearing.
There are three very different groups within sensory impairment:
SIGHT IMPAIRMENT/
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
DUAL SENSORY LOSS
WHO IS AFFECTED AND HOW?
WHO IS AFFECTED AND HOW?
SIGHT IMPAIRMENT/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
SIGHT IMPAIRMENT/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
TOTAL WESTERN BAY POPULATION ESTIMATED TO BE LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED IN WESTERN BAY
People with sight loss are 1.7 times more likely to have a fall and 1.9 times more likely to have multiple falls.
Smokers double their risk of developing eye conditions and earlier than non-smokers.
Obesity has been linked to several eye conditions including cataracts.
People from African/African-Carribean populations are considerably more at risk of developing glaucoma and have a higher risk of developing age related macular degeneration.
People from Asian populations are at higher risk of cataracts.
An estimated 60% of stroke survivors have some sort of visual dysfunction following a stroke.
Adults with learning difficulties are far more likely to be visually impaired than the general population.
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
HEARING IMPAIRMENT
PREDICTED HEARING IMPAIRMENT AMONGST CHILDREN
It is anticipated that the numbers of children with hearing impairment will increase slightly over time due to the projected modest increase in the number of people in younger age groups in the Western Bay area.
WESTERN BAY
2015
2030
2015
BRIDGEND
52
NEATH PORT TALBOT
51
SWANSEA
84
2030
BRIDGEND
58
NEATH PORT TALBOT
56
SWANSEA
92
PROJECTED HEARING IMPAIRMENT AMONGST ADULTS
It is estimated that 4% of the working age population in Wales wear hearing aids or are profoundly deaf. The rate at which hearing impairment occurs, increases very significantly by age. The vast majority of people with hearing loss are elderly. The growth in the expected numbers of adults expected to experience a hearing impairment could be attributed to the growth in the population aged 65 and over.
WESTERN BAY
2015
2030
2015
BRIDGEND
15289
NEATH PORT TALBOT
15575
SWANSEA
25907
2030
BRIDGEND
21026
NEATH PORT TALBOT
19763
SWANSEA
33042
Babies will be at risk fo failing to develop language skills and of low educational attainment if their hearing impairment goes undetected.
Prevalence of hearing impairment may be higher in Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, particularly in more recent migrants from countries with low levels of immunisations against conditions such as rubella.
Environmental factors are linked to greater risk of hearing impairment such as loud noise or direct head trauma.
People with hearing loss are highly likely to have problems such as tinnitus and balance disorders.
People with hearing loss may also have other additional disabilities or long term health conditions that limit their daily activities such as arthritis and mobility problems.
DUAL SENSORY LOSS
DUAL SENSORY LOSS
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEVERELY SIGHT IMPAIRED WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT OF ALL AGES
WESTERN BAY ( 2014 – 2015 )
BRIDGEND
%
NEATH PORT TALBOT
%
SWANSEA
%
NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEVERELY SIGHT IMPAIRED WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT AGED 65+
WESTERN BAY ( 2014 – 2015 )
BRIDGEND
%
NEATH PORT TALBOT
%
SWANSEA
%
THINGS PEOPLE TOLD US THAT MATTER TO THEM
THINGS PEOPLE TOLD US THAT MATTER TO THEM
WHO IS RECEIVING HELP AND WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
WHO IS RECEIVING HELP AND WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
Habilitation services for children and young people:
– Sensory Support Teams in each local authority
– Specialist sensory teachers and pupil welfare workers
– ABMU Health Board Audiology and Eye Clinics
– Resource Suite at Trem Y Mor Resource Centre in Bridgend
Sensory Support Teams in each local authorities providing support to children and adults including functional assessments, communication and practical skills, benefits advice, rehabilitation and habilitation. The service also provides equipment to enable independent living.
– Specialist sensory teachers and pupil welfare workers for educational support.
– ABMU ‘Take Time for Yourself Team’ , promoting the importance of making health care information and communication accessible to patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, partially sighted or have dual sensory loss.
– ABMU health Board Audiology and Eye Clinics providing assessment and rehabilitation to children, young people and adults.
– Third sector services including a drama group, swimming club and Deafblind Cymru Support Group.
– Resource Suite at Trem Y Mor Resource Centre in Bridgend , offering a range of support services including Braille classes, assessments and provision of environmental aids, demonstrations of equipment such as telephones, IT software, IPads etc , mobility and kitchen skills workshops with peer support group sessions.
– Also in Bridgend there is a Hearing Impairment Team providing weekly support groups for children with hearing loss and their parents/carers.
WHAT CHANGES DO WE NEED TO PLAN FOR?
WHAT CHANGES DO WE NEED TO PLAN FOR?
DOWNLOAD THE CHAPTER/PDF FOR MORE INFORMATION
DOWNLOAD THE CHAPTER/PDF FOR MORE INFORMATION
