Sensory impairments

When one or more of our senses doesn't work normally, it's called a sensory impairment. Our senses include seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting and spatial awareness.

We use our senses all the time without thinking about it. They work together to help us respond to the things around us. Sensory impairments can make daily life hard, and it can be difficult to complete day-to-day activities. It can make an individual feel lonely and excluded, which adversely impacts their quality of life.

There are different levels of sensory impairments, but with the right tools and support systems in place, most people can still live independently.

The profile provides an overview of how many people are living with sensory impairment in Suffolk.

Sensory impairment profile

Sensory impairment profile
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Sensory impairments, such as hearing and vision problems, are some of the leading reasons people lose healthy years of life to disability. They can hinder basic daily activities and result in social isolation and loneliness, negatively affecting quality of life.
A sensory impairment refers to a disability affecting one or more of the senses. A person does not need to have full loss of a sense to have a sensory impairment.
It is possible for many people with a sensory impairment to live independently with the right aid and support.
In 2022, the estimated prevalence of sight loss in Suffolk was 4.1%, this is 0.8 percentage points higher than the England estimate of 3.3%. It is estimated that 1 in 7 of the Suffolk population are deaf or hard of hearing. This difference in prevalence may be linked to Suffolk’s relatively old population. In Suffolk, 23.6% of residents are 65 years or over, five percentage points higher than England (18.6%). This indicates that the risk of sensory impairment and demand for supporting health services may be high in Suffolk. Across Suffolk the prevalence of visual and hearing impairment is projected to increase over the next 10 years.
The RNIB estimate that 6,050 people are living with some degree of dual sensory loss (for example, a hearing and a vision impairment) in Suffolk. Of these people, it is estimated that 2,440 are living with severe dual sensory loss.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of taste and smell impairments, to an estimated prevalence at more than one in five adults nationally. However, this high prevalence has been shown to be linked to COVID-19. Persistent taste and/or smell impairment prevalence estimated non-related to COVID-19 has been estimated to effect around one in 20 people.
Increased risk of sensory impairments has been associated with several health inequalities. Sensory impairments are more common in older adults and increased prevalence is associated with poor health and deprivation.
Research indicates that up to 50% of cases of blindness and serious sight loss could be prevented if detected and treated in time. The same research indicates that sight test take up is lower than would be expected, particularly in areas of higher deprivation.
Healthwatch Suffolk have been engaging with Suffolk communities in accessible ways so they can effectively share their experiences of using health and social care services. They have extended their ongoing ‘Your Care, Your Way’ campaign to the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Suffolk. More than 140 deaf and hard of hearing people have now shared their experiences of using NHS and social care services in Suffolk.

Sensory impairments

Sensory impairment profile

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