Hearing Loss In Adults

Question 1

Causes of hearing loss in adults

Answer 1

Inherited or acquired
1. Autoimmune
2. Ototoxic medications
3. Exposure to loud noise
4. Tumors
5. Head injury
6. Aging

Question 2

What does otosclerosis cause

Answer 2

Conductive hearing loss
Surgically treated

Question 3

Cause of Ménière’s disease

Answer 3

Unknown

Question 4

Age of onset

Answer 4

30-50

Question 5

Symptoms of menerie’s

Answer 5

Combo of:
Fluctuating, sensorineural hearing loss
Vertigo
Tinnitus
Sensitivity to loud sounds

Question 6

Who manages Meniere’s

Answer 6

Doctor and audiologist

Question 7

Autoimmune inner ear disease

Answer 7

-sudden onset, in one ear
-must be treated immediately to be reversed, otherwise permanent
Symptoms may include: fullness in ear, vertigo, tinnitus

Question 8

Ototoxic medications

Answer 8

Can be reversed when stop using drug, sometimes permanent
Aminoglycoside antibiotics
Aspirin
Loop diuretics
Drugs used in chemotherapy

Question 9

Noise induced hearing loss

Answer 9

Most common in adults
Can be progressive or sudden

Question 10

Factors affecting NIHL

Answer 10

Decibel level - how loud the sound
Distance - how close you are to the source of sound
Time - the length of time you are exposed to the sound

Question 11

How many decibels before damage occurs

Answer 11

At or above 85 dB causes damage
At or above 100 no more than 15 minutes
At or above 110 dB no more than 1 minute

Question 12

Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)

Answer 12

Amount of protection a HPD (hearing protection device) offers
The higher the NRR the better the device limits sounds

Question 13

How to properly insert ear plug

Answer 13

Rol into thin cylinder
Pull top of ear up and back with opposite arm
Insert into ear and hold earplug for 20-30 seconds

Question 14

Acoustic neuroma

Answer 14

Tumor along auditory pathway
Symptoms: hearing loss or tinnitus in one ear accompanied by feeling of fullness
Treatment is medical

Question 15

Risk factors for presbycusis

Answer 15

Noise exposure
Ototoxic
Infection
Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes
Vascular diseases
Immunologic disorders
Hormones
Genetics

Question 16

What is the hallmark of presbycusis?

Answer 16

Progressive, symmetrical loss of
High frequency hearing over many years

Question 17

What is the typical progression of hearing loss associated with presbycusis?

Answer 17

A slow, persistent decline in hearing with age

Question 18

At what age does presbycusis typically begin?

Answer 18

In the sixth decade

Question 19

Describe the symmetry of hearing loss in presbycusis.

Answer 19

It is typically symmetrical

Question 20

Which frequency range is most affected by presbycusis?

Answer 20

Frequencies above 2 KHz

Question 21

How does presbycusis affect mid and low frequencies over time?

Answer 21

They become progressively involved

Question 22

What frequencies carry the majority of the energy of human speech?

Answer 22

Low and mid frequencies (0.5 to 2 KHz)

Question 23

What type of information do high frequencies carry in speech?

Answer 23

Consonant sounds

Question 24

Why are consonant sounds difficult for patients with presbycusis to hear?

Answer 24

They are soft and high-pitched

Question 25

Fill in the blank: Presbycusis typically begins in the _______ frequency range.

Answer 25

high

Question 26

What is the cocktail party effect

Answer 26

Difficulty that patients experience with communication in social settings

Question 27

Prevalence of hearing loss

Answer 27

80% of functionally significant hearing loss in older adults
11%: 44-54
25%: 55-64
32 % 65-84
More common in men than woemn

Question 28

Untreated hearing loss can lead to:

Answer 28

Progressive social withdrawal
Depression
Isolation
Significant familial stress
Negative impact on patient-dr interactions
Deleterious effect on spouse
Compounded by other coexisting functional limitations (sight, etc)

Question 29

What is the prevalence of hearing loss in adults aged 70 years and older in the U.S.?

Answer 29

Nearly two thirds

This statistic highlights the significant impact of hearing loss in the aging population.

Question 30

Name one cognitive decline associated with hearing loss.

Answer 30

Dementia

Various studies indicate a strong link between hearing loss and increased risk of dementia.

Question 31

How does hearing loss affect driving ability?

Answer 31

It is associated with impaired driving ability

Hearing loss can interfere with auditory cues critical for safe driving.

Question 32

What are two potential consequences of hearing loss?

Answer 32

• Walking difficulty
• Social isolation

Question 33

True or False: Hearing loss does not impact cognitive function.

Answer 33

False

Hearing loss has been shown to correlate with cognitive and functional decline.

Question 34

Fill in the blank: Poor hearing requires greater cognitive resources for _______.

Answer 34

auditory decoding

This increased demand can detract from cognitive resources available for other tasks.

Question 35

What is one hypothesis about the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive decline?

Answer 35

A common etiology could underlie both conditions

Question 36

What might mitigate the consequences of hearing loss according to the hypotheses presented?

Answer 36

Hearing aids or other aural rehabilitative devices

These devices could potentially improve auditory function and, in turn, cognitive and physical health.

Question 37

List three health issues that have independent associations with hearing loss.

Answer 37

• Dementia
• Driving ability
• Social isolation

Question 38

What is a possible effect of communication impairments due to poor hearing?

Answer 38

Progressive social isolation

Social isolation can have downstream health and functional consequences.

Question 39

What role does the auditory system play in relation to body space?

Answer 39

It helps control body space