Chapter 46 Hearing, Speech, and Vision Problems Flashcards
hearing, speech, and vision
-allow communication, learning, and moving about
-are important for self-care, work, and most most activities
-are important for safety and security needs
many people have some degree of hearing or vision loss
common causes are:
-birth defects
-accidents
-infections
-diseases
-aging
ear disorders
Otitis media
is infection of the middle ear
chronic otitis media
can damage the tympanic membrane-eardrum- or the ossicles
needed for hearing and prenant hering loss can occur
signs and symptoms include
pain-earache- and healing loss
fever and tinnitus- ringing, roaring
treatment involves:
-antibiotics
-drugs for pain relief
-drugs to relieve congestion
ménière’s disease
involves the inner ear
ménière’s disease:
-it’s a common cause of hearing loss
-usually one ear is affected
symptoms include:
-vertigo (dizziness)
-tinnitus
-hearing loss
-pain or pressure in the affected ear
treatment involves:
drugs
fluid restriction
no alcohol or caffeine
safety is needed during vertigo
the person must lie down
falls are prevented
the persons head is kept still
sudden movements are avoided
bright or glaring light are avoided
the person should not walk alone
hearing loss
is not being able to hear the normal range of sounds associated with normal hearing
losses are mild to severe
deafness
is hearing loss in which it is impossible for the person to understand speech through hearing alone
hearing loss occurs in all age-groups
common causes of hearing loss are damage to the:
outer, middle, or inner ear
acoustic nerve (cranial nerve 8, vestibulocochlear)
risk factors
-aging
-exposure to very loud sounds and noises
- drugs
-infections
-reduce blood flow to the ear caused by high blood pressure, heat and vascular diseases, and diabetes
-stroke
-head injuries
-tumors
-heredity
-birth defects
-temporary hearing loss can occur from earwax (cerumen)
hearing is required for:
clear speech
responding to others
safety and awareness of surroundings
hearing is needed for speech
person with hearing loss may:
-wearing hearing aids or lip-read (speech-read)
-watch facial expressions, gestures, and body language
-learn American sign language
hearing aids
fit inside or behind the ear
if hearing aids does not seems or work properly, try these measures
-check if the hearing aid is on
-check the battery position
-insert a new battery if needed
-clean the hearing aid
speech disorders
speech disorders
results in impaired or ineffective oral communication
common causes :
-hearing loss
-developmental disabilities
-brain injury
these problems are common:
-aphasia
-apraxia
-dysarthria
apraxia
of speech cannot use the speech muscles for understandable speech
the person with it
the person understand speech and knows what to say but the brain cannot coordinate the speech muscles to make the words
-the motor speech area in the brain is damaged
dysarthria
difficult or poor speech
the person with it
it is caused by nervous system damage
mouth and face muscles are affected
slurred speech, speaking slowly or softly, hoarseness, and drooling can occur
some persons need speech rehabilitation
The goal:
the goal is to improve the ability to communicate
A speech-language pathologist and other health team members help the person
-improve affected language skills
-use remaining abilities
-restore language abilities to the extent possible
-learn other methods of communicating
-strengthening the muscles of speech
the amount of improvement possible depends on many factors
-causes, amount, and area of the brain damage
-age and health
-willingness and ability to learn
aphasia
is the total or partial loss of the ability to use or understand language
common causes:
-stroke
-head injury
-brain infections
-cancer
expressive aphasia
motor aphasia-brocade aphasia
relates to difficulty expressing or sending out thoughts
