Introductory Awareness of Sensory Loss

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Unit 4222-258 – Introductory awareness of sensory loss A person with sensory loss will have problems receiving or interpreting information coming to them through one or more of the five senses. There are many factors that have an impact on individuals with sensory loss apply to all types of sensory loss. The factors that might have an impact on individuals with sensory loss are: • The person’s own beliefs about sensory loss, as wells as general health and abilities • Others’ attitudes and beliefs about people with sensory disabilities • Whether symptoms are noticed or ignored • Presence or lack of diagnosis of problems • Presence of lack of appropriate support services • Whether there is staff training in general or particular support skills • Availability or lack of appropriate support by carers in the person’s home environment • Whether there is appropriate support outside in society Many factors can have a positive or negative impact on the person with a sensory loss. The negative factors and the potential impact on individuals with a sensory loss are: • Having an attitude of ageism/disablism – sensory loss is expected and carers believe the condition won’t improve so it is assumed to be an untreatable part of an existing condition. The individual may have lived with untreated loss for so long that they are unwilling to undergo assessment or treatment • Lack of person-centred care – sensory loss is not noticed, or noticed but not properly diagnosed • Seeing individuals only in terms of present or past conditions – this is known as ‘Diagnostic overshadowing’ – a pre-existing condition such as mental illness leads to new symptoms being ignored, or an existing sensory loss may be known about but another loss develops that is missed or ignored. Also, a loss may be acknowledged but deterioration not noticed or admitted • Ignorance of how
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