What it means
Any reduced ability to take in information through the senses. It may be present from birth or come with aging, injury or illness: cataracts and macular degeneration affect sight, age-related hearing loss affects hearing, and diabetic neuropathy dulls touch in the feet. It affects safety, communication and independence.
For the nurse
Face a client with hearing loss, speak clearly without shouting and cut background noise. Make sure glasses and hearing aids are clean and in place. Keep the room well lit and free of clutter, and check bath water temperature for a client with numb hands or feet.
At a glance
| Also written | sensory impairments |
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Related terms
numbness
Loss or reduction of feeling in a part of the body.
impairment
A loss or weakening of a body function or ability, such as sight, hearing, movement or thinking.