Types of sensory loss
Sensory loss, or sensory impairment, is the common term used to describe Deafness, blindness, visual impairment, hearing impairment and Deafblindness.
Visual Impairment
There are an estimated 50,120 people living with sight loss in Essex. Of this total, 6,700 are living with severe sight loss (blindness).
A slow deterioration in sight may seem inevitable for many of us as we get older but need not always be restricting. If you have any concerns about your eyesight, or feel that your sight has deteriorated, you should always consult your GP or an optician. It’s important for everyone to have regular eye tests even from an early age to ensure that any problems are identified early.
More serious loss of sight can happen as the result of accidents, or from a variety of medical conditions.
To read more about visual impairments, click here.
Hard of Hearing or Deaf
There are approximately 155,000 people in Essex with a moderate or severe hearing impairment, and a further 3,500 who are profoundly deaf.
Most of us take our hearing for granted, but living without effective hearing can be a frightening and frustrating experience, leaving people feeling disconnected from the world around them. It can make it difficult to communicate fully with other people, and harder to play a full and active part in society.
Hearing loss can come in many different forms. Some people are born with problems with their hearing, and others begin to have hearing problems as they get older.
To learn more about hearing loss and different types of equipment, click here.
Dual Sensory Impairment (Deafblindness)
Estimates suggest that there are over 15,000 people with a dual sensory impairment in Essex.
A person is considered deafblind when their combined vision and hearing loss significantly affects their ability to communicate, access information, and move around independently.
This can include individuals with a gradual decline in both sight and hearing. Impairments in vision and hearing can develop at various stages of life.