Sensory System Neuro Changes Flashcards
Interaction of musculoskeletal, neurological, and sensory (visual, proprioceptive, vestibular) systems
Balance
- learned motor pattern
- can keep it or relearn it by practicing
What are typical balance problems associate with aging?
Dizziness
Eye and proprioceptive changes
Decreased Coordination
Decreased LE range of motion
Decreased LE strength: ankles, knees, and hips
Less ability to control changes in the center of gravity
Gait changes: slower speed, shorter step and increased BOS
Vision problem: (nearsightedness) only objects closer than ~ 20 ft are in focus
Myopia
Vision problem: (farsightedness) objects less than 20 ft are blurred
Hyperopia
Vision problem: both distant and near objects are blurred
Astigmatism
Vision problem: Decreased Pupil Size(Poor and slower pupil adjustment to light changes); Restriction of vertical vision with aging (Decreased eye movement, Decreased neck extension); Vision loss associated with unmet IADL’s; Consider architectural design with fire exit signs, room numbers, etc.
Presbyopia (old sight)
- the loss of vision through the normal aging process
What does someone having 20/40 vision mean?
person can see an object at 20 ft or less that a person with normal vision can see at 40 ft. Can perform most functions, i.e., driving.
- 20/50 = cannot drive car, ~⅓ people > 80 y/o
Vision problem: High intraocular pressure – preventable and treatable; Peripheral vision affected first
Glaucoma
- 95% of blindness due to this is preventable; early detection is key
- 2nd leading cause of blindness
- rx: topical eye drops, surgical laser
- due to diabetes
Vision problem: Degenerative opacity of lens - treatable; Impedes light; Central vision affected first
Cataract
- most prevalent cause of blindness
- scatters light causing misty vision
- rx: removal of lens with replacement
- due to age, poor nutrition, radiation, smoking
Vision problem: Pigmentary change of macular area of retina caused by small hemorrhages; More serious and less treatable than glaucoma and cataracts; Blurring followed by blind spot
Macular degeneration
- blind spot or gray shadow in the center of vision
- leading cause of blindness in >65 y/o
- pigmentary change of the macular area of the retinal
Vision problem: Flickering lights; Acute increase in floating specks
Retinal detachment
What qualifies as legal blindness?
- Central vision acuity of 20/200 or less with the better eye with corrective lenses
AND - Restriction of peripheral vision to a 20 degree angle
Involves conduction problems in external ear to middle ear; May prevent hearing danger signals in the environment
Peripheral hearing losses
Degeneration of neural receptors, the 8th cranial n., central nervous system; Typically permanent; Sound localization is impaired; Hearing in a group is impaired
sensorineural losses
- recent lit review says typical aging may lead to this
- may be asymmetric, may be caused by excessive noise
- neural hearing centers located in cochlea
Hearing loss related to aging – a gradual progressive bilateral symmetric high-frequency hearing loss; Poor speech discrimination
Presbycusis
