Sensory impairment

Sensory impairment involves the eyes and hearing. Both of these conditions can have an adverse effect on the health of older people. It is, however much easier with today's medical knowledge to do something about most conditions that present themselves.

Visual degeneration: Cataracts – occurs when the lens of the eye becomes opaque and impairs vision. This can cause blindness.

Symptoms Your vision may get worse which may make you feel like your vision is cloudy, fuzzy or filmy. Spots in your vision. Glare and halos from lights or the sun. This may be severe and you may also have difficulty driving at night. Double vision in one eye. Your colour vision may become washed out or faded.

Causes of cataracts Cataracts are caused by changes in the lens protein of the eye, which makes them cloudy. There are certain factors that can increase your risk of getting cataracts. These include: –diabetes –an injury to the eye –exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight –medication use, such as long-term use of steroids –smoking –heavy drinking –a family history of cataracts –eating too much or too little –not eating a healthy, balanced diet –dehydration

In later life cataracts may be the result of degenerative changes brought on by aging or a systemic disease, an example of which is diabetes. Many individual over the age of 60 exhibit some degree of lens opacity. Advanced cataracts is usually treated by surgically removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens.

Glaucoma Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure inside the eye is raised. The increase in pressure usually happens when fluid in the front part of the eye doesn't drain away properly. Normally, the amount of fluid produced is balanced by the amount draining away, so the pressure in the front part of the eye stays constant

Vision simulator This simulator was made to show people how glaucoma can change vision over time. To begin, click on the button and drag it to the right, or just click different points on the white line. You will see a simulation of how glaucoma progresses if left untreated. px

Symptoms Blurred vision Hazy, cloudy, white Pain Feel sick, vomit or faint Misty rainbow coloured rings around white light Enlarged/ protruding eyes

Causes Age is the main risk factor for glaucoma. Not many people under the age of 40 will develop the condition, but two in 100 people over the age of 40 and five in 100 people over the age of 65 will develop chronic glaucoma. If you are of African origin you are more at risk and it may affect you earlier in life and be more severe. If you have a close relative with glaucoma, you are at greater risk and should have regular eye tests from the age of 35. People who are very short-sighted are also more prone to glaucoma. If you have diabetes, your risk of developing chronic glaucoma is also higher.

Sensory Impairment: Visual Visual degeneration: –After 45 yrs of age the ability of the eye to focus begins to weaken. –By 65 yrs of age there is little focusing power.

Is growing old fun? Sight is crucial in maintaining independence! The loss of sight can be devastating for many older people. But early detection can be very effective.

Hearing degeneration: Hearing loss –as people age they will often suffer from hearing loss. This will be a gradual process where they begin to lose the ability to hear sound at certain frequencies.

Hearing degeneration: –The inner ear is the organ most frequently affected by changes from ageing. –Sensitivity of the nerve cells to sound may decrease. –Loss of nerve fibres may affect a persons sense of balance. –The amount of wax made by the ear can also increase and become harder.

Hearing loss can be temporary and the most common cause is a build up of wax. This is easily solved by dissolving or softening the wax and then syringing ear.

Other problems: –Tinnitus – constant ringing in the ears which can become very depressing. –Loss of hearing frequently at either the higher or lower range of sounds. –Deafness due to the excessive wax build up in the ears.