Hearing and Vision Flashcards
Age related changes to the ear
Degenerative changes in inner ear
* Narrowing of auditory meatus from
bone apposition (Squeeze closer together)
* Diminished blood supply
* Central nervous system changes
Diff bw hard of hearing and deaf?
HOH is a level of hearing impairment
Deafness is Profound hearing loss
Three categories of Hearing impairment
Prelingual (HOH occurs very young)
Postlingual (Occurs sometimes after age 2)
Presbycusis (age related degeneration of auditory structure)
Risk Factors affecting hearing wellness
male gender, increased age
genetic predisposition
exposure to noise
impacted cerumen
smoking
exposure to secondhand smoke
ototoxic medications
certain medical conditions
Most prevalent risk factos for impaired hearing
Noise induced hearing loss
- Preventable
- Prolonged
- Associated with occupations and rec activities
Types of hearing impairment
Conductive (abnormalities of external and middle ear) - sound ability to pass through canal
Sensorineural hearing loss: Abnormalities of sensor and neural structures of inner ear
Mixed: Involving both
Adjunct
Exacerbates
Hearing Assessment
Otoscopic exam
Tuning fork tests for hearing
Screening tools
Family history with past and present risks
Attitudes abt hearing aids
Nursing diagnoses
Readiness for enhanced communication
* Anxiety
* Impaired social interaction
* Ineffective coping
* Risk for loneliness
* Risk for injury
Eye Related change
arcus senilis, loss of
orbital fat and diminished elasticity of eyelid muscles—
usually do not interfere with vision
Diminished tear production
Degenerative changes affect the retinal-neural pathway and visual cortex of the brain
Less efficient at taking in light and interpreting
Visual impairment
Loss CANNOT be corrected, ranging from mild to blindness
Mild impairment
Caused by normal age related changes, excarebated by environmental conditions such as glare and poor lighting
Presbyopia
Loss of accomodation
Risk factors affecting visual wellness
Lifestyle
Nutrition
Smoking + exposure
Sunlight exposure
Chronic conditions + medications
Functional Consequences Affecting visual wellness
Presbyopia ***
Need for 3-5 times more light than previously
Difficulty with night dribng
Increased risk for mobility and falls
Increased difficulty in performing usual activities
Anxiety, depression and lower levels of psychological
well-being
Effect on driving
Cataracts
leading, (potentially) reversible cause of vision impairment
Advanced age
Malnutrition
Diabetes
Adverse medications
Age related macular degeneration (AMD)
leading cause
of severe vision loss
Glaucoma
Glaucoma: causes loss of peripheral vision leading to
blindness if untreated
Leading cause of blindness, considered a chronic issue
Diabetes
o Corticosteroid use
o Family history
o Latino and Asian
descent
encompasses multiple eye diseases
AMD
Leading cause of severe
vision loss in older adults
Risk factors include
o Advanced age
o Smoking
o Exposure to sunlight
o Family history
Occurs inside the eyeball
Amsler grid
Type of visual assessment option
Steroids do what
Make things improve to progress quickly
Open-angle glaucoma
Most common form
Early signs: poor vision in
dim lighting and increased
sensitivity to glare
Treated with laser surgery
Normal pressure glaucoma
Optic nerve damaged
Unknown cause
Acute Angle Closure glaucoma
Less common form
medical emergency
Nursing Diagnoses
Readiness for Enhanced Knowledge: Improved Vision
Disturbed Sensory Perception: Visual
Anxiety
Ineffective Coping
Self-Care Deficit
Risk for Injury
Impaired Social Interaction
Best approach to communicating with an adult with impaired hearing
Lower tone of voice
Normal age related change not affected by environmental autiori=y factors
Degeneration of inner ear structures
Do fluid and electrolyte balance play a role in hearling loss?
No
Strategy for improving communication with older adults with hearing loss
Make eye contact before and during a conversation with hearing-impaired adults.
Which assessment finding most clearly warrants further assessment and possible intervention?
The epithelial lining is bright red.
b.
The tympanic membrane is a pearl-gray colour.
c.
There is a small amount of cerumen visible in the ear canal.
d.
The tympanic membrane is intact.
The epithelial lining is bright red.
Which recent change in the resident’s behavior may signal the possibility of hearing loss?
The resident’s attention span is short and he is easily distracted.
Which statement, if made by the caregiver, indicates that further teaching is required regarding care of hearing aids?
“I have purchased enough batteries to last a year.”
