Course aims
This online Multi-Sensory Impairment training course aims to improve the awareness of sensory impairments and how best to support people who have these impairments. On completion of this course, caregivers and other health and social care professionals will be able to make positive changes in their workplace.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this online Multi-Sensory Impairment training course, you will:
- Have an awareness of sensory loss
- Be able to more effectively identify sensory impairment in people you are caring for or treating
- Become aware of the full range of sensory impairments that may affect patients and service users
- Be mindful of the terminology used when describing sensory impairments
- Become aware of some of the needs of individuals who have a sensory impairment
- Explain why it is essential to promote awareness of sensory loss for individuals
- Be able to address sensory impairment issues in the workplace with greater confidence
- Be more effective in communicating with those who have a sensory impairment
- Have an awareness of the broader services available for people who have a sensory impairment
- Explain how different agencies can provide opportunities to raise awareness
What is sensory impairment?
Sensory impairment is when one of your senses, e.g., sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and spatial awareness, is no longer normal. For example, if you wear glasses, then you have a sight impairment, or if you find it hard to hear or have a hearing aid, then you have a hearing impairment.
Multi-sensory impairment in children
Children who have a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) have both a vision and hearing loss. Their sensory loss may be present at birth or acquired later.
Some of these children also have medical, physical and cognitive disabilities. Multi-sensory impairment impacts on all areas of learning and children may need additional support to learn to communicate and develop socially.
Through working closely with the child or young person and family, the service can provide families and schools with information and strategies for development for example on functional use of vision and or hearing, development of communication, mobility, physical skills and environmental adaptations.
What is a sensory disability?
A sensory disability refers to an impairment of the senses (e.g. sight, hearing).
As 95% of the information about the world around us comes from our sight and hearing, a sensory disability can affect how a person gathers information from the world around them.
What is vision impairment?
Vision impairment (also referred to as visual impairment) is any diagnosed condition of the eye or optical system that cannot be corrected to within normal limits.
Why is online Sensory Impairment training essential?
Sensory impairment is when one of the senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and spatial awareness, is no longer normal. If one wears glasses, they have a sight impairment, and if one finds it hard to hear or have a hearing aid, then they have a hearing impairment.
A person does not have to have a full loss of a sense to be sensory impaired. However, these impairments may affect many aspects of their lives. Our multi-sensory impairment training courses were designed to give learners a broader awareness of these problems so that they are better able to support them.
What is covered in this course?
This online Multi-Sensory Impairment training course covers the following:
- Define sensory impairment/sensory loss (including deafness, blindness and deaf-blindness)
- Have an awareness of the commonly used terminologies to describe the sensory loss
- Have a knowledge of the statistics relating to blindness, deafness and deaf-blindness in the UK
- Have aware of some of the causes of sensory impairment
- Be able to recognise sensory impairment
- Have an awareness of the impact of different sensory losses on the individual
- The use of effective communication tactics to improve our interaction with and care for those who have sensory impairments
- Tips on how to maximise communication with people who have sensory impairments (including practical communication)
- The importance of equipment training and environmental adjustment
- Alternative ways of accessing information relating to sensory impairment
- Helpful organisations, equipment, and websites, for those with a sensory impairment
- Further training opportunities available for carers and other health and social care workers.
Multi-Sensory Impairment Training - Level 2 - Online Course - CPD Accredited.
