joint strategic needs assessment foundation profile - JSNA

Interative Hull Atlas: www.hullpublichealth.org/Pages/hull_atlas.htm More information: www.jsnaonline.org and www.hullpublichealth.org
Table 397 gives the projected numbers of people in Hull with moderate or severe visual
impairment who are aged 65+ years or who have a registerable sight loss and are 75+
years. The underlying prevalence estimates used are from Charles (Charles 2006). All
causes of visual impairment are included with moderate or severe visual impairment
defined as visual acuity of less than 6/18 which is largely used as the point which
approximates to the statutory threshold for qualifying as registered severely sight
impaired (blind) or registered sight impaired (partially sighted). Of those aged 75+
years, approximately half have cataracts or reflective error (i.e. correctable sight loss)
and Table 397 also provides estimates of the projected population aged 75+ years
excluding those with correctable sight loss. Age-related macular degeneration is the
most common cause of registerable sight loss in older people.
Table 397: POPPI – population projections to 2030 for those aged 65+ years in Hull who
have a moderate or severe visual impairment or registerable eye condition
Condition Age
(yrs)
Hull’s population estimates and projections of
people with a visual impairment
2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Moderate or severe visual 65-74 1,036 1,176 1,294 1,327 1,490
impairment
75+ 2,195 2,294 2,393 2,827 3,137
Registerable eye condition 75+ 1,133 1,184 1,235 1,459 1,619
Table 398 gives the projected numbers of people in Hull with moderate or severe
hearing impairment or with profound hearing impairment who are aged 65+ years. The
prevalence estimates are based on two studies (Davis 1995; Davis 2007).
Hearing loss and deafness is usually measured by finding the quietest sounds someone
can hear using tones with different frequencies - which are heard as different pitches.
The person being tested is asked to respond - usually by pressing a button - when they
can hear a tone and the level of the tone is adjusted until they can just hear it. This level
is called the threshold. Thresholds are measured in units called dBHL - dB stands for
'decibels' and HL stands for 'hearing level'. Anyone with thresholds between 0 and 20
dBHL across all the frequencies is considered to have 'normal' hearing. The greater the
threshold level is - in dBHL - the worse the hearing loss. People with moderate
deafness have difficulty in following speech without a hearing aid. The quietest sounds
they can hear in their better ear average between 35 and 49 decibels. People with
severe deafness rely a lot on lip-reading, even with a hearing aid. British Sign Language
(BSL) may be their first or preferred language. The quietest sounds they can hear in
their better ear average between 50 and 94 decibels. People who are profoundly deaf
communicate by lip-reading. BSL may be their first or preferred language. The quietest
sounds they can hear in their better ear average 95 decibels or more.
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Foundation Profile – Hull Health Profile: Release 3. March 2011. 752