Ch. 40 Flashcards
function of ear
- promote auditory sensory perception which occurs when sound is delivered through air to external canal
- sound waves strike eardrum
- receptors at cochlea change vibrations into action and are conducted to brain as nerve impulses
how often should older adults be screened for hearing acuity?
on a regular basis
age-related changes in the ear
- drier, impacted cerumen
- loss of tympanic membrane elasticity
- degenerative changes of pinna and cochlea
- diminished hearing acuity
- disturbed vestibular function
- decreased ability to hear high-frequency sounds
conductive hearing loss: causes
- cerumen
- foreign body
- edema
- infection
- tumor
- perf tympanic membrane
conductive hearing loss: assessment findings
- evidence of obstruction with otoscope
- abnormal tymp membrane
- speaking softly
- hearing better in noisy places
*No permanent damage/hear loss
sensorineural hearing loss: causes
- prolonged exposure to noise
- presbycusis
- ototoxic drugs
- Menieres disease
- Acoustic neuroma
- DM
sensorineural hearing loss: assessment findings
- normal appearance of external canal and tymp membrane
- occasional dizziness
- speaking loudly
- hearing poorly in loud places
*Hearing loss often permanent
which type of hearing loss is often permanent?
sensorineural
assessment clues of hearing loss
- during interview, face patient and assess their posture and responses: tilting head to one side or leaning forward
- ask questions about any history of hearing issues, exposure to loud noise
- ask questions about meds- anything ototoxic like NSAIDS, diuretics, or certain antibiotics
tests to assess hearing
- voice test
- watch test
- tuning fork tests: weber, rinne
- audiometry
weber test
- tuning fork hearing test used to screen for conductive or sensorineural hearing loss
- heard midline
rinne test
- tuning fork hearing test used to screen for conductive or sensorineural hearing loss
- positive in healthy individuals: indicates air conduction is more beneficial than bone conduction
gross hearing acuity tests
- assess clients response to normal voice tones
- watch tick test
- tuning fork tests: weber’s test, Rinne test
non-surgical/medical interventions for hearing loss
- early detection
- safety measures (d/t hearing loss)
- medications
- assistive devices: hearing aids
surgical interventions for hearing loss
- tympanoplasty
- implants (ie cochlear devices)
tympanoplasty
microsurgery ― surgery using a microscope or endoscope― to fix holes in the eardrum that do not heal on their own
cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is an implanted electronic hearing device, designed to produce useful hearing sensations to a person with severe to profound nerve deafness by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear
interventions for hearing loss
- surgical
- nonsurgical
- maximize communication
- community resources (support groups)
how can you maximize communication in a patient with hearing loss?
- lip-reading
- sign language
- collaborate with speech therapist/audiologist
- manage anxiety