Study Guide Flashcards
What is the role of the audiologist in a diagnostic assessment for a medical condition?
Audiologists administer and interpret diagnostic tests
Audiologists do not provide medical diagnosis
What DOES an audiologic diagnosis include?
Opinions on cause of hearing loss
Impact of hearing loss on communication
(source: Roeser et al.)
What is site of lesion testing? What are the three main areas addressed in this course?
Isolate the portion of the auditory system that is affected
Identify where in the pathway there is a problem
Middle ear (conductive), cochlea (SN), auditory nerve (retrocochlear) (nerve or SN)
What are the goals of a basic audiologic assessment?
Assess peripheral auditory system
Detection of presence of hearing loss
is hearing sensitivity within normal limits?
Audiogram
Determination of degree of loss across frequency
Determination of type of loss
Estimate potential impact and outcomes
What is recommended line of treatment?
medical …rehabilitative …psychosocial
How does hearing assessment vary in a diagnostic evaluation vs. an evaluation for treatment?
Diagnostic
Assess physical auditory system
Assess need for medical treatment
Audiologists do not treat medically
Treatment
Assess impact on communication and other areas of living
Audiologists do this kind of treatment
How can the referral source provide clues to your approach to patient management? Give examples.
Self-referrals or referrals from family members
Aware of communication needs
Physician and other health care professional referrals (specialists or general practitioners)
Medical diagnosis or management
SLP or other educational/development-related
Rule out/address hearing loss
Need help with school in different ways
Legal
Lawsuit, did they injure themselves on the job
Workers compensation
Employment
What should an audiology address at each diagnostic visit, regardless of initial complaint?
Always address potential medical concerns/need for medical referral
Always address potential communication concerns
Always address potential vestibular concerns
** even if the stated reason for the visit does not include one or more of the above
*I came in for hearing aids but see a perforation, would refer
What are two key ingredients to correct differential diagnosis?
Excellent case history
Thorough physical examination
What are some advantages to taking at least part of the case history orally?
Establish rapport with patient
Establish environment where patient feels his/her needs are paramount
Ask for clarification and probe further as needed from written history
Estimate cognitive level and hearing level to guide instruction and test procedures
List six “probing questions” that should be asked to learn more about a patient’s symptoms (from slides under case history)
How long has the complaint been occurring?
Is it in one or both ears (if auditory complaint)
Is it constant, fluctuating, or intermittent?
If it fluctuating or intermittent; describe
How long does it last?
Trigger(s)?
What makes it start/when do you notice it?
Can you do anything to make the symptom stop or lessen?
What do you do when you notice <complaint>?</complaint>
Define “review of systems”
List of questions arranged by organ or system
What are three important factors with regards to developing a case history form?
Keep it at a simple reading level
Keep it as concise as possible
Translate it into other languages common to your region
What are the 6 indicators from the case history that a medical referral is warranted?
Fluctuating hearing loss
Chronic middle ear infections
Sudden hearing loss
Recent onset tinnitus
Recent onset vertigo
Family history may indicate need for medical referral
What is the general format of reporting the case history?
Patient characteristics:
Patient name and age and what type of evaluation was done
Description of patient status (alert and cooperative, or otherwise)
Who provided the case history information
Who accompanied the patient, if anyone
Chief complaint:
Why was the patient referred? Include any relevant information
Other history:
Describe similar conditions together- start with audiology-related and particularly any history that may be relevant to the chief complaint
Include details from your probing questions
How would you report a normal otoscopic examination?
The normal tympanic membrane should appear
pearly grey
with a light reflex
generally concave
and you should be able to make out the malleus
Upon otoscopic examination, both pinnas appeared fully formed without obvious abnormalities. No abnormalities were noted in the area surrounding the pinna. Both of the tympanic membranes showed a cone of light at the anterior inferior quadrant. Both of the tympanic membranes were semi-translucent with a typical shape. The umbo and manubrium of the malleus were visible.
What is included when reporting on the tympanic membrane?
Shape of the eardrum – bulging or retracted
Colour of the eardrum – red (infection), yellow (glue ear), brown (blood), presence of blood vessels
Light reflex present or not? (usually absent in bulging EDs)
Umbo
Manubrium of the malleus
Things that should not be there (next slide)
What are the components of a basic audiometric assessment?
air bone speech
What are the 3 elements of evidenced-based practice?
evidence
clinical expertise
client perspective consideration
How do you know if you are referencing quality research evidence?
Systematic reviews
Clinical practice guidelines (one of our orgs (ADA, ASHA, AAA)
Peer-reviewed journals
Textbooks, maybe
What are the two types of speech threshold tests?
Speech recognition threshold (SRT)
speech detection/awareness threshold
What is the definition of the Speech Recognition Threshold/SRT?
being able to repeat the word back 50% of the time at their absolute threshold (softest sound)
What stimuli are used to measure SRT?
with spondaic words - equal stress and 2 syllables
What is the psychoacoustic method used for SRT?
adaptive staircase
How is starting level determined for SRT?
start at 30 or a level expected to be audible to them, estimating
What is the step size?
Down 10 up 5, have to get 2/4 on an ascending run
What are two possible response modes for SRT?
pointing or repeating the word
How should SRT be measured for a patient who is not a native speaker of English?
test in their own language and make sure to know how to identify a correct response
What is the stopping rule?
How is threshold calculated?
wherever we stopped
Why is it necessary to calibrate speech material each time a speech test is done?
because we need to give the audiometer information about the amplitude of the stimulus
How often do you need to monitor the VU meter during MLV (monitored live voice) testing?
the whole time you’re testing