special care: Sensory Impairment

Question 1

Define sensory impairment

Answer 1

When one or more sense is no longer functioning as normal - doesn’t have to be a full loss

Question 2

Define a mild distance vision impairment.

Answer 2

presenting visual acuity worse than 6/12

Question 3

Define a moderate distance vision impairment.

Answer 3

presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18

Question 4

Define a severe distance vision impairment.

Answer 4

presenting visual acuity worse than 6/60

Question 5

Define blindness in terms of distance vision impairment.

Answer 5

presenting visual acuity worse than 3/30

Question 6

What is cataract?

Answer 6

Clouding of the lens which leads to decreased vision

Question 7

What occurs in age related macular degeneration?

Answer 7

there is a circulatory insufficiency

this causes degenerative lesions developing from photoreceptor cells becoming damaged and scarred

= loss in the central field if vision

Question 8

What are the two types of macular degeneration, which is the mist common?

Answer 8

Wet - severe loss within months

Dry - gradual loss (common)

Question 9

What causes glaucoma?

Answer 9

Fluid accumulation in the front of the eye which increases the intraocular pressure

Question 10

What are the two types of glaucoma?

Answer 10

primary open angle - gradual blockage of the drainage channels within the eye

angle closure - rapid blockage of the drainage channels within the eye

Question 11

What causes diabetic retinopathy.

Answer 11

High blood sugars cause the vasculature supplying the retina to become leaky/blocked.

Question 12

Describe the stages of disease in diabetic retinopathy.

Answer 12

background retinopathy = bulges develop in BV, some burst and bleed.

pre-proliferative retinopathy = more severe changes to BV and more bleeding

proliferative retinopathy = scar tissue and new weak BV form on the retina causing vision loss

Question 13

What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?

Answer 13

Duration of diabetes 
High blood sugars 
Pregnancy
levels of selected serum lipids 
genetic factors

Question 14

What is hemianopia?

Answer 14

Blindness in one half of the visual field

Question 15

What commonly causes hemianopia?

Answer 15

stroke

Question 16

What techniques would you use to treat someone with a visual impairment.

Answer 16

Always identify yourself and others in the room

inform the patients of people moving around, entering and leaving the room

tell them what you are going to do before you do it

have alternative formats available to the patient i.e. braille, audiotapes

Question 17

Define hearing impairment

Answer 17

a person who is not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing.

spectrum of impairment
one or both ears

Question 18

What is the starting point for hearing loss

Answer 18

mild = 25dB

Question 19

List congenital causes of hearing impairment

Answer 19

maternal rubella, syphilis or other infections

low birth weight

birth asphyxia

drug use during pregnancy e.g. cytotoxic, diuretics, antimalarials

severe neonatal jaundice

Question 20

List acquired causes of hearing impairment

Answer 20

meningitis, measles, mumps

chronic ear infections

otitis media

exposure to excessively loud noises

injury to the head/ear

wax/foreign body blocking the canal

age

drugs - antimalarials etc

Question 21

What techniques would you use to treat someone with a hearing impairment?

Answer 21

do not shout

ask their preferred method of communication

ask if they would like to use a loop system

clear speech and normal lip pattern

write things down

ensure no echo in the room

ensure no background noise

allow extra time

book communication support if require i.e. BSL interpreters etc.