Hearing

Question 1

age-related changes

Answer 1

• degenerative changes in inner ear
• narrowing of auditory meatus from bone apposition
• diminished blood supply
• CNS changes

Question 2

hard of hearing

Answer 2

level of hearing impairment
‘deafness’ is profound hearing loss

< or > 70 dB

Question 3

prelingual

Answer 3

before spoken language
- young children

Question 4

post lingual

Answer 4

after spoken language

Question 5

presbycusis

Answer 5

age-related degeneration of auditory structures

Question 6

risk factors that affect hearing wellness

Answer 6

• male gender, increased age
• genetic predisposition
• exposure to noise
• impacted cerumen
• smoking
• exposure to secondhand smoke
• ototoxic medications
• certain medical conditions

Question 7

most prevalent risk factor for impaired healing

Answer 7

noise-induced hearing loss
(NIHL)
- preventable
- prolonged or intermittent exposure to noise
- associated w/ occupation and recreational activities

Question 8

types of hearing impairment
– conductive hearing loss

Answer 8

abnormalities of external and middle ear interfering w/ sound conduction

Question 9

types of hearing impairment
– sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 9

abnormalities of sensory and neural structures of inner ear
- usually age-related or noise induced

Question 10

types of hearing impairment
– mixed hearing loss

Answer 10

involves both conductive and sensorineural impairments

Question 11

tinnitus

Answer 11

perception of sound w/o acoustic stimulus
- persistent sensation of ringing, roaring, blowing and buzzing
symptoms of underlying condition
- hearing loss
- ototoxic meds
- Meniere disease
- or sensorineural tinnitus

Question 12

hearing assessment

Answer 12

• otoscopic examination for impacted cerumen
• tuning fork tests for hearing
• screening tool:
  > > the Hearing Handicap inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-S) - 10 item questionnaire
• family history w/ past and present risks
• attitudes about hearing aids
• impact of impairment on communication & QOL

Question 13

nursing diagnoses

Answer 13

• readiness for enhanced communication
• anxiety
• impaired social interaction
• ineffective coping
• risk for loneliness
• risk for injury

Question 14

nursing interventions

Answer 14

• promote hearing wellness
• teaching about interventions to address modifiable risk factors
  (ototoxic medications or treating underlying condition - HTN)
• monitor for removing impacted cerumen
• promoting referrals for audiology services
• teaching about the use and care of hearing aids
• communication techniques with hearing-impaired older adults
• using assistive listening devices

Question 15

evaluating interventions

Answer 15

• improved ability to communicate
• effective use of hearing aids and amplification devices
• increased participation in social activities
• environmental modifications to eliminate background noises
• participation in auditory rehabilitation program