Hearing Impairment

Question 1

Hearing loss is the ___ most common chronic dz among older adults

Answer 1

4th

Question 2

Some age-related changes with hearing

Answer 2

External ear canal walls become thin
Cerumen becomes drier
Eardrum thickens
Hair cells lost
Stria Vascularis - capillaries thicken, decreased endolymph production, Na K ATPase activity decreases

Question 3

hearing loss pathology can be caused by damage to the ____

Answer 3

external ear canal 
auditory nerve
middle ear
inner ear
central auditory pathways
a combo

Question 4

cerumen impaction, foreign body

Answer 4

external ear pathology

Question 5

otosclerosis, cholesteatoma, typmpanic membrane perforation, middle ear effusion

Answer 5

middle ear pathology

Question 6

Most common cause of sensorineural loss

Answer 6

cochlear dz

Question 7

sensorineural hearing loss that is symmetrical, amplification often helps

Answer 7

presbycusis

Question 8

Loss of sensory hair cells, slow progressive loss, beginning w/ higher frequencies

Answer 8

Sensory presbycusis

Question 9

Results from atrophy of the stria vascularis

Answer 9

Strial presbycusis

Question 10

Cochlear neuronal loss of 50% or more

Answer 10

Neural presbycusis

Question 11

Changes in cochlear mechanics produced by mass or stiffness changes or spiral ligament atrophy

Answer 11

cochlear conductive presbycusis

Question 12

Hearing loss can be interpreted as ____

Answer 12

cognitive impairment

Question 13

___ can be an early sign of hearing loss

Answer 13

Tinnitus

Question 14

Examine ear canals to exculde

Answer 14

cerumen impation or effusion.

Question 15

When to consult otolaryngologist

Answer 15

Asymmetrical hearing loss (can indicate tumor)
Cerumen impaction that is not responsive
Hx of tympanic membrane surgery or perforation

Question 16

when to refer to audiologist

Answer 16

to determine type of hearing loss.

Question 17

Paget dz, otosclerosis tx

Answer 17

bisphosphonate

Question 18

Sudden hearing loss tx

Answer 18

corticosteroids or immunosuppressants

Question 19

when is surgery indicated for hearing loss

Answer 19

otosclerosis, tympano sclerosis

Question 20

Who won’t benefit from hearing aids

Answer 20

Those w/ poor speech discrimination, those unable to tolerate hearing aid in ear

Question 21

Completely in the canal hearing aids needed for this degree of hearing loss

Answer 21

mild to moderate

Question 22

In the ear hearing aids advantage

Answer 22

Ease of handling, comfortable fit. More power than completely in canal or canal aids

Question 23

canal hearing aids advantages

Answer 23

cosmetically appealing, telecoil available, can work w/ headphones

Question 24

disadvantages of canal hearing aids

Answer 24

user’s dexterity may be a problem

small size may limit features

Question 25

in the ear hearing aids disadvantages

Answer 25

more conspicuous than completely in canal aids

Question 26

behind the ear hearing aids used for this degree of hearing loss

Answer 26

mild to profound

Question 27

behind the ear hearing aid advantages

Answer 27

greatest power, ear mold can be managed separately

Question 28

behind the ear aid disadvantages

Answer 28

conspicuous, difficult to insert, difficult w/ headphones

Question 29

body hearing aids degree of loss

Answer 29

severe to profound

Question 30

body hearing aid advantage

Answer 30

limited feedback

Question 31

body hearing aid disadvantage

Answer 31

most conspicuous, picks up clothing noise, microphone at chest but speech directed at ear level

Question 32

bone conduction aids degree of loss

Answer 32

mild to severe

Question 33

bone conduction aid advantage

Answer 33

bypasses middle ear

Question 34

bone conduction aid disadvantage

Answer 34

pressure on scalp, no sensorineural loss correction

Question 35

Electronic device bypassing functioning of damaged or absent hair cells by providing electrical stimulation

Answer 35

cochlear implant

Question 36

Patient who is withdrawing from activities, misunderstanding questions probably needs ____

Answer 36

in office hearing screen

Question 37

Sensorineural hearing loss, speech understanding great in quiet environment, but fair in noisy environment will require ___

Answer 37

Hearing aid and counselling on communication strategies.