Assessment of the Special Senses

Question 1

What is involved in a special senses assessment?

Answer 1

Vision and hearing assessments [PERRLA, EOM, SNELLEN, Otoscopic inspection, and a whisper test]

Question 2

What is a PERRLA assessment?

Answer 2

PERRLA is an acronym used to document a common pupillary response test. This test is used to check the appearance and function of your pupils.

Question 3

What is an EOM assessment?

Answer 3

An examination of the function of the eye muscles. A health care provider observes the movement of the eyes in six specific directions.

Question 4

What does PERRLA stand for?

Answer 4

The list includes Pupils, Equal, Round, Reactive (to), Light, Accomodation.

Question 5

What does EOM stand for?

Answer 5

Extra Ocular Movement

Question 6

What is a SNELLEN aka visual acuity assessment?

Answer 6

Used to determine the smallest letters you can read on a standardized chart (Snellen chart) or a card held 20 feet (6 meters) away.

Question 7

What is an otoscopic assessment?

Answer 7

The purpose of otoscopic examination is to evaluate the condition of the ear canal, tympanic membrane and the middle ear.

Question 8

What equipment do you need for an otoscopic assessment?

Answer 8

An otoscope.

Question 9

What is a whisper test.

Answer 9

An efficient screening test for detecting hearing loss.

Question 10

What are the steps of completing a PERRLA assessment?

Answer 10

1. Explain procedure and gain consent. 2. Inspect pupils, equality, roundness. 3. Shine light into each eye twice looking for both brisk contriction and a consensual reaction. 4. Test for accomodation (ask patient to focus on a distant object then to a near object of 10cm from nose). 5. Compare to normal findings.

Question 11

What are the steps for completing an EOM assessment?

Answer 11

1. Explain the procedure and gain consent. 2. Make sure the client is seated and position yourself 60cm away. 3. Ask the client to follow your finger while keeping your head still the finger should be 30cm away. 4. Test 6 cardinal positions moving slowly and smoothly within the visual field. 6. compare to normal findings

Question 12

What are the steps for completing a Snellen aka visual acuity assessment?

Answer 12

1. Explain the procedure and gain consent. 2. Get client to stand 6 meters away from chart and hold one eye with index card. 3. Ask client to read all lines of the chart. 4 Determine the smallest line in which the patient can read all letters correctly. 5. Repeat on other eye. 6. Compare to normal findings

Question 13

What are the steps for completing an otoscopic assessment?

Answer 13

1. Explain procedure and gain consent. 2. Inspect and palpate the outer ear. 3. Straighten the ear canal (upwards and backwards). 3. Insert otoscope correctly (upside down - pinky for support). 4. Describe what is seen in the ear canal and the condition of the tympanic membrane.

Question 14

What are the steps for completing a whisper test?

Answer 14

1. Explain the procedure and gain consent. 2. Ask the client to occlude one ear pressing on the tragus. 3. Stand behind the patient slightly. 60cm 4. Exhale and whisper slowly a word of at least 3 syllables. 5. Ask client to repeat what you say. 6. Repeat 3 times. testing each ear. 7. If you need repeat closer to the patient (30cm). 8. Compare to normal findings.

Question 15

What equipment do you need for an otoscopic assessment?

Answer 15

An otoscope, a replaceable piece for the otoscope.

Question 16

What equipment do you need for a PERRLA assessment?

Answer 16

A small torch fit for eye assessments.

Question 17

What equipment do you need for an Snellen aka visual acuity assessment?

Answer 17

A snellen chart and an index card.

Question 18

What equipment do you need for an EOM assessment?

Answer 18

Just your finger.

Question 19

What is the tragus?

Answer 19

The tragus of the ear is the thick piece of flesh that covers the opening of the ear,

Question 20

What does occlude mean?

Answer 20

To close up or block off

Question 21

How to we straighten the ear canal for adults?

Answer 21

Upwards and backwards.

Question 22

How do we straighten the ear canal for kids?

Answer 22

Downwards and backwards.

Question 23

What would we find inside a healthy ear canal?

Answer 23

Healthy and pink.

Question 24

What does a healthy and unhealthy tympanic membrane look like?

Answer 24

Pearly grey colour is normal and the cone of light at 7pm on left and 5pm on the right.

Question 25

Where would you find the cone of light if you were inspecting the left ear?

Answer 25

7 o clock

Question 26

What would we find inside a healthy ear canal?

Answer 26

Healthy and pink. Some ear wax.

Question 27

What would we find inside an unhealthy ear canal?

Answer 27

Inflamed, Unusual ear wax, Narrow canal.

Question 28

What does a healthy tympanic membrane look like?

Answer 28

Intact membrane, pearly grey colour and the cone of light at 7pm on left and 5pm on the right.

Question 29

What does an unhealthy tympanic membrane look like?

Answer 29

An abnormal tympanic membrane may be retracted or bulging. Might notice redness.

Question 30

If someone is at 6 meters and can read the third line only on the snellen chart what would be their result?

Answer 30

At 6 meters this patient can read what we would expect someone with full functioning vision to see at 24 meters.

Question 31

If someone is at 6 meters and cant read the third line on the snellen chart what would be their result?

Answer 31

At 6 meters this patient can read what we would expect someone with full functioning vision to see at 36 meters.

Question 32

If someone is at 6 meters and can read the 1st line only on the snellen chart what would be their result?

Answer 32

At 6 meters this patient can read what we would expect someone with full functioning vision to see at 60 meters.

Question 33

What are normal findings for an EOM assessment?

Answer 33

Expected movement of the eyes in all directions.

Question 34

What are normal findings for an PERRLA assessment?

Answer 34

The pupils should be equal in shape and size, Healthy pupils are round, Healthy pupils get smaller in bright or direct light.

Question 35

What does accomodation stand for in an eye test?

Answer 35

Accommodation refers to your eyes’ ability to see things that are both close up and far away.

Question 36

What are normal findings for an PERRLA assessment?

Answer 36

The pupils should be equal in shape and size, Healthy pupils are round, Healthy pupils get smaller in bright or direct light, and can switch quickly between objects far then close.