Download Handout 4 What are the Main Causes of Sensory

Understand sensory loss
Handout 4: What are the main causes of sensory loss?
Learning outcome 3, Assessment criteria 3.1, 3.2
An individual may experience a form of sensory loss because of:
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a congenital defect
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an inherited disorder
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an illness
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an injury.
Sensory loss may occur suddenly or can be slow and gradual. Some inviduals are born with
sensory losses (due to congenital defects or inherited disorders) whilst others acquire them
through illness or injury. It is also possible to be born with some sensory loss and then acquire
others at a later stage in life. An individual born with Down’s syndrome, for example, is likely to
have some congenital hearing loss but may also develop a problem with their sight or sense of
touch as they grow older.
Causes of hearing loss
Type of cause
Hearing loss may result from:
Congenital
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Acquired
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problems with the in utero (pre-birth)
development of the bones or passages
of the ear
physical damage during birth
autoimmune disorders such as
autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED)
being linked to a condition such as
Down’s syndrome.
head injury
infections of the ear alone: otitis media
or inflammation of the middle ear, for
example
general infection; rubella or German
measles, for example
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progressive ear disease; for example,
Ménière’s disease, which also affects
balance
temporary conditions, but potentially
severe if left untreated; hard ear wax or
swimmer’s ear, for example
environmental causes; heavy smoking
or sustained very loud noise, for
example
reaction to medications
damage to the auditory nerves: this can
also result in constant ringing or
whistling noises in the ear known as
tinnitus.
Causes of sight loss
Type of cause
Sight loss may result from
Congenital
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Acquired
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illnesses contracted during pregnancy:
for example, rubella and syphilis
some congenital syndromes or
diseases
trauma to head or eyes during birth.
head injury, particularly to the ‘visual
area’ at the back of the brain
eye injury or internal eye trauma,
including detached retina and high
pressure within the eye leading to
glaucoma
brain disease such as a stroke,
transient ischaemic attack (a small
temporary stroke) or a brain tumour
general disease – particularly diabetes,
which affects the blood vessels in the
eyes; multiple sclerosis; blood pressure
problems
eye infections; for example, uveitis,
which occurs around the eyeball
vitamin A deficiency
age-related change – particularly AMD
(age-related macular degeneration),
where central sharp vision starts to be
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lost but peripheral vision round the
edges may remain
cataracts.