Alteration in Cognitive Systems Flashcards
Are dementia persons clear with their thoughts and with what’s going on?
Dementia persons conscious is clear – they just don’t know where they are/what’s going on
S + S of excited delirium?
associated with altered mental status, combativeness, aggressiveness, tolerance to pain, rapid breathing, diaphoresis, severe agitation, increased temperature, noncompliance – “superhuman” strength and they don’t seem to fatigue
Onset and duration for delirium?
The onset for delirium is abrupt and its course is sporadic, the duration of delirium is limited to days or weeks and it is reversible for most patients.
Predisposing factors for middle ear infections?
allergies, sinusitis, cleft palate, hypertrophy of the adenoids, eustachian tube dysfunction, & immune deficiency
What is sensorineural hearing loss?
Impairment of part of the inner ear, or auditory nerve (Cranial Nerve VIII)
is MS a diffuse or focal disease? what does it result in? (What does it form)
It’s a progressive diffuse disease that results in patched of damage throughout the brain and spinal cord (forms hard yellow plaques of scar tissue)
Causes of sensorineural hearing loss?
Causes – noise exposure, aging, ototoxicity (side effect of medications), systemic diseases – like DM, neoplasms, autoimmune processes
What is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? What does it affect?
– neurodegenerative disease affects nerve cells of brain and spinal cord
What is causing the break in neurons in those with Alzheimers?
Tangles and plague development is whats causing the break in the neuron and causing the demntia – can’t see until autopsy
Why are ear infections more common in kids?
Due to eutation tube being smaller and straighter
What is the earliest sing of sensorineural hearing loss?
Delayed speech development is the earliest sign
What develops due to the loss of neurons in Alzheimer’s? What contributes to the decline?
Brain atrophy develops due to the loss of neurons
Loss of synapses, acetylcholine, and other neurotransmitters contributes to the decline
What is Guillain barre syndrome? Where is it directed at?
Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Rare demyelinating disorder caused my an autoimmune reaction directed at the peripheral nerves
-Caused by a humeral and cell - mediated immunological reaction directed at the peripheral nerves
-occurs within days to sometimes weeks
What is Lateral sclerosis?
Lateral sclerosis – scarring of the corticospinal tract (occurs with ALS)
what disease would we see dementia with Lewy bodies? What is it present with?
Dementia with Lewy bodies that we would see in Parkinson’s present with visual hallucinations, delusions, sleep disorder, delirium
Signs and symptoms for Guillain barre syndrome? How long can recovery take?
Starts with tingling and numbness progresses to Paresis of the legs to complete quadriplegia
Starts in legs and moves upward
Respiratory insufficiency - worst thing that can happen
ANS instability
Recovery can take weeks, to months, to up to 2 years
Residual weakness in 30% of individuals
Similar symptoms of both AOM and OME?
Symptoms - both
Hearing loss
Ear fullness
What is dementia? What does it manifest as?
Dementia is a slow but stedy deterioration, can take months to years to develop and is rarely reversible.
Acquired deterioration and a progressive failure of many cerebral functions
Declining abilities may manifest in agitation, wandering, and aggression
No cure, treatments are supportive only
How many stages are there in macular degeneration?
2 step process that progresses from wet to dry
Dry stage – eye tissues start to degenerate – epithelial cells produce yellowish-white spots – deposited on retina – calcify, enlarge and multiply
Wet stage – new vessels develop beneath the epithelial cells – they are weak and leak serous fluid or blood– central vision is lost
What is responsible for the symptoms of parkinsions?
Reduction of dopamine upsets the normal balance between inhibitory dopamine and excitatory acetylcholine neurotransmitters
The effects of lower Dopamine is responsible for the symptoms of Parkinson’s
What is stimulation of the brain shown to do in those with Alzheimers?
stimulation shows downs progression , doesn’t stop it but it slows it down
When does Parkinson’s disease tradindtionally begin?
Begins after age 40 – incidence increase after age 60
Risk factors for MS?
– may be smoking, vitamin D deficiency and Epstein-Barr virus, and family history
S + S of hypoactive delirium?
reduced motor activity,lethargy,withdrawal,drowsiness and stareing into space
Initially we will see decrease in mental function, attention span will decrease, will have inappropriate reactions to their environment, forgetfulness, & apathetic, their speech will be slowed and they will fall asleep easily and often