What is sensory impairment?

Sensory impairment refers to a condition where one or more of the senses (vision, hearing, touch, and taste, or smell) are partially or completely impaired. This can affect an individuals ability to perceive and interpret information from their environment.

Types of sensory impairments:

1. Visual impairment-blindness, low vision, or other vision problems.
2. Hearing impairment- deafness, hard of hearing, or other hearing problems.
3. Auditory processing disorder- difficulty processing sound, despite hearing problems.
4. Tactile impairment-numbness, sensitivity, or other problems with touch perception.
5. Olfactory impairment-Reduced or lost sense of smell
6. Gustatory impairment- Reduced or lost sense of taste.

Causes of sensory impairment:

- Genetic
- Injuriy or trauma
- Infection (meningistic, ear infections)
- Age related degeneration
- Certain medical condition(diabetes, multiple sclerosis)
- Environmental factor( exposure to loud noises, toxins)

Effects of sensory impairments:

- Communication difficulties
- social isolation
- Emotional distress
- Decreased independence
- Increased risk of accidents or injuries

Assistive technologies, rehabilitation and support services can help individuals with sensory impairment adapt and lead filling lives.

What is sensory integration?

Sensory integration refers to the process by which the brain organizes and interprets sensory information from the
Environment and our own bodies. This information comes from various sensory symptoms including:

1. Tactile(touch)- sensing texture, temperature, pressure, and vibration.
2. Proprioceptive (position and movement)-Sensing body position, movement, and balance.
3. Vestibular (balance and equilibrium)-Sensing head position, movement, and acceleration.
4. Visual-Sensing light, colour, shape and movement.
5. Auditory- sensing sound, pitch, and volume.
6. Olfactory(smell)-Sensing odors and scents.
7. Gustatory( taste)- sensing flavors and texture

Sensory integration allows us to:

- Perceive and understand our environment
- Regulate our emotions and behaviours
- Develop motor skills and coordination
- Focus and attend to relevant information
- Filter out irrelevant sensory information

When sensory integration is impaired, it a can lead to difficulties with:

- Sensory processing disorder(SPD)
- Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity activity disorder(ADHD)
- Anxiety and stress
- Motor skill development

Occupational therapists open work with individuals to improve sensory integration through activities and strategies that help regulate and organize sensory information.

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