Understanding Dual Sensory Impairment (DSI): e-learning course

This awareness course provides an essential foundation in understanding Dual Sensory Impairment, especially acquired DSI which affects so many older people due to the ageing process.

Produced by Hearing Impairment – Visual Impairment Support UK (Hi-Vis UK), the national charity working to increase awareness and skills in DSI across the health and social care workforce in the public, independent and voluntary sectors.

This course is the gateway to further Care Act 2014 compliant statutory qualifications and courses provided by Hi-Vis UK.

Course content

  • What is Dual Sensory Impairment (DSI)?
  • Impact of Dual Sensory Impairment?
  • Hearing loss side of DSI
  • Vision loss side of DSI
  • Recognising DSI – The indicators, including in the home environment, care setting and healthcare setting
  • Finding practical support with DSI
  • Communication methods and tactics
  • Rights of Dual Sensory Impaired people in England, including information about the Care Act

Learning goals

  • Understand what DSI is and how it differs uniquely from single sensory loss.
  • Learn the importance of our hearing and sight by understanding what happens when these start to deteriorate.
  • Understand hearing loss and the two main types associated with ageing (includes audio simulations).
  • Understand sight loss and the five main eye conditions (includes video simulations).
  • Learn how to spot the signs of dual sensory impairment: in the home, in a care setting, and in a healthcare setting.
  • Learn what types of practical support are possible including equipment and places to go for help.
  • Learn the DSI communication essential skills with our three-step guide.
  • Understand how legislation affects you as a professional, a carer, and as an individual – know your duties and know where you stand.

Purchase for you and your colleagues

Standard price per learner: £55.00 + VAT

Discounts applied for orders of multiple licences.

Buy and study now Enquire about hosting on your LMS

Frequently asked questions

  • Care sector professionals
  • Social work professionals
  • Employers
  • Clinicians
  • Carers
  • Older people
  • Students

This is always a difficult question to answer as no two people are the same. There are a number of factors to consider such as level of knowledge, reading speed and in which order the course is completed.

For that reason, our estimates are really quite broad. Analytics shows that learners take an average of two hours to study the course and pass the assessment.

If you are interested in hosting this e-learning course and/or the assessment, on your Learning Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) we are able to help. We can provide:
  • Course content: A SCORM 1.2 or 2004 compliant version of the course.
  • Certification: The assessment, questions and answers, in MS Word format, which you can build on to your platform.
  • Course updates: We will supply you with course updates for an agreed period of time.
  • Custom changes: We can help by making custom changes to the course to meet your specific learning and development needs.
Contact us to find out more about bringing our course to your learners on your platform.

V1 (September 2022) Original release.

  • The price stated is exclusive of VAT. Customers will be charged VAT at the UK’s standard rate in addition to the price stated.
  • On receipt of payment, we’ll issue you, the customer, with course invite(s).
  • You, the customer, will be able to issue course invites to your learners. Each learner must have a unique and working email address, and must sign-up (or log into their existing) MySCIE account to accept the invite. MySCIE accounts are free.
  • Course invites must be issued to, and accepted by, learners, within 90 days of purchase, otherwise the invite will expire.
  • Learners are required to agree that their course progress is shared with you, the customer, before they can access the course.
  • From accepting the invite, the learner will have 90 days access to the course and its assessment / certification.
  • Please check the recommended devices / web browsers for this course, before purchase.
  • Please check who this course is for, before purchase.
  • An internet connection is required, with the ability to stream video content from Vimeo and YouTube.
  • All material in these resources, including text, graphics, photographs, video and audio is copyright of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), unless otherwise stated.
  • Although SCIE’s courses have been used over many years with almost no reported problems, SCIE cannot provide technical support for their implementation or to investigate or fix any reported technical problems, nor does it warrant that they are fully compliant with all or any technical platform. Please review the recommended devices / web browsers advice.
  • Video scenarios have been produced using actors. This approach has been adopted to protect the identities of individuals whose accounts have been drawn upon to create the scenarios. The professional reflections are provided by experts (i.e. real people) whose professional responsibilities.

SCIE recommends using the latest versions of device operating software and browsers to access our e-learning courses. The minimum technical requirements are (depending on your setup):
  • Chrome: Latest version
  • Firefox: Latest version
  • Microsoft Edge: Latest version
  • Safari: Latest version
  • iOS: 10
  • Android: Marshmallow (6.0)
This course has been tested on a selection of Apple and Android mobile and tablet devices, running the latest web browsers. SCIE cannot take responsibility if the course, assessment or certificate does not work on your particular device or software. Please note: Usage of Microsoft Internet Explorer, including IE 11, is not recommended.