Types of Sensory Impairments

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Welcome to our Types of Sensory Impairments page.  Sensory Impairments refers to injuries, conditions, or diseases that impair a person’s 5 senses, namely Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell and Touch.

This page addresses:
– The types of disabilities or impairments that can effect ones vision, and/or affect ones hearing in such a way that disadvantages them in society
– Sports and/or Hobbies that are available in South Africa for persons with visual and hearing impairments,
– Service Providers, Organisations, Companies, Products, Educational and Health Care facilities and professionals that are available to assist the Deaf or persons with sensory impairments,
– Services available to companies seeking to employ persons with impairments and the Deaf.

What Are You Looking For?

A Types of Sensory Impairments
1. Blind Visual Impairments
1.1 Blind
1.2 Visual Impairments
1.3 Colour Blindness

2. Deaf/Hearing Impairments
2.1 Deaf
2.2 deaf
2.3 Hard of Hearing
2.4 Hearing Impaired

3. Deaf/Blind Impairments
4. Taste/Touch/Smell/Spatial Impairments

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Types Of Sensory Impairments

According to the White Paper, Sensory Impairments falls into 4 primary categories:
1. Blind/Visual 2. Deaf/Hearing 3. DeafBlind and 4. Other: Taste/Smell/Touch and Spatial Impairments

1.
Blind/Visual

In South Africa, blindness is defined as vision of 6/60 (20/200) or worse in the better eye, or a visual field of 20° or less.

2.
Deaf/Hearing

Deafness is defined as a degree of loss such that a person is unable to understand speech even in the presence of amplification.

3.
DeafBlind

Deafblindness is a combined loss of hearing and vision that significantly limits a person’s ability to access information, communicate, and navigate their environment

4.
Taste/Smell/Touch and Spatial

All conditions or impairments that affect the body’s ability to detect and interpret these essential senses.

1. Blind/Visual Impairments

Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment or vision loss, is a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses. Some also include those who have a decreased ability to see because they do not have access to glasses or contact lenses.
Visual Impairment can be divided into 3 categories: Blind, Visual Impairments and Colour Blind.
To learn more about your category of interest, simply click on the link below:

Types of Blind/Visual Impairments

1.1. Blind

In South Africa, blindness is defined as vision of 6/60 (20/200) or worse in the better eye, or a visual field of 20° or less

1.2. Visual Impairment

A Visual impairment refers to reduced vision between 6/18 and 6/60, even with correction, that affects daily functioning.

1.3. Colour Blind

Colour blindness falls into three main types: red–green, blue–yellow, and complete colour blindness.

2. Deaf/Hearing Impairments

The Deaf/Hearing Impairments category covers all impairments or conditions that effect ones hearing, or causing partial or total inability to hear. This includes symptoms like ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. A deaf person has little to no hearing.
Hearing Impairment can be divided into 4 categories: Deaf, deaf; Hard of Hearing and Hearing Impaired.
To learn more about your category of interest, please click on the link below:

Types of Deaf/Hearing Impairments

2.1. Deaf


Refers to people who identify as members of a cultural and linguistic minority group who use sign language as a primary means of communication.

2.2. deaf


Refers to persons with total hearing loss not using SASL as a primary medium communication, who use various means of assistive hearing technologies

2.3. Hard of Hearing

A person who is audiologically deaf and uses a spoken language or Sign Language as a means of communication and learning.

2.4. Hearing Impaired


Persons with varying degrees of hearing loss, who do not use sign language but do use communication and assistive hearing technologies.

3. Deaf/Blind

DeafBlind refers to a condition in which a person has both hearing and vision impairments that are significant enough to cause difficulties in communication, accessing information, and mobility. The combination of these sensory losses creates unique challenges that cannot be addressed by services designed solely for people who are blind or for those who are deaf. To learn more about your category of interest, please click on the link below:

4. Taste / Smell / Touch and Spacial Awareness Impairments

The Loss of Taste, Smell, Touch, and Spatial Awareness category includes all conditions or impairments that affect the body’s ability to detect and interpret these essential senses. This may involve partial or complete loss of taste (ageusia), smell (anosmia), touch (hypoesthesia), or difficulties with spatial awareness, which can affect balance, movement, and coordination. These impairments can occur individually or together, and may result from neurological conditions, injury, illness, or sensory processing disorders.

Taste, Smell. Touch and Spatial Impairments

1. Loss of Taste

Loss of Taste is a Gustatory Impairment and is the partial or complete loss of taste, often linked to smell loss, medication side effects, or nerve damage.

2. Loss of Smell

An olfactory impairment, which can include a partial or complete inability to detect odors, or an abnormal perception of odors.

3. Loss of Touch

A Tactile Impairment or Tactile Sensory Processing Disorder that leads to difficulty feeling textures, temperatures, or pain.

4. Loss of Spatial Awareness

A Proprioceptive or Vestibular Impairment that can lead to reduced ability to sense body position, affecting movement, co-ordination and balance

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While we strive for accuracy and clarity, AI-generated visuals may not always reflect real-life conditions or representations.
In addition, we feature authentic images and videos of actual instances, events, circumstances that have occurred, as well as products and services supplied by companies who advertise with us.

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While we strive for accuracy and clarity, AI-generated visuals may not always reflect real-life conditions or representations.
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While we strive for accuracy and clarity, AI-generated visuals may not always reflect real-life conditions or representations.
In addition, we feature authentic images and videos of actual instances, events, circumstances that have occurred, as well as products and services supplied by companies who advertise with us.

These authentic visuals are intended to accurately depict our content or the offerings of our advertising partners.
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