Unit 3 - Hearing Impairment

Question 1

What is the effect of sensorineural hearing loss? (4)

Answer 1

• decreased ability to hear high pitched sounds
• older adults can hear vowels better than consonants
• Interferes with ability to identify the spatial location of the source of speech or noise
• diminished speech discrimination, influenced by the speaker’s rate of speech, rapid, slow, or slurred

Question 2

What is the effect of conductive hearing loss? (4)

Answer 2

• reduced intensity of sounds
• difficulty hearing vowels and low pitched sounds
• loudness can improve hearing in all frequencies
• background noise is not as prominent a problem as with sensorineural hearing loss

Question 3

What percentage of older adults experience hearing loss by impacted cerumen?

Answer 3

19-65% of adults over 65 years old

Question 4

What are the symptoms of impacted cerumen? (4)

Answer 4

underdiagnosed
- hearing loss
- diminished cognitive function
- possibly pain, itching, tinnitus, dizziness

Question 5

How do you prevent hearing loss caused by impacted cerumen? (4)

Answer 5

can interfere with hearing aides
- check for cerumen build up every 3-12 months for a person w/ hearing aide
- use cerumenolytic agents prophylactically (use for a few days prior to ear irrigation)
- ear irrigation

Question 6

What should you never assume about hearing loss? (3)

Answer 6

• that it is due to age until other causes are ruled out
• infection, medication, cerumen build up
• nurses can visualize the tympanic membrane and detect cerumen impaction using otoscope

Question 7

What can nurses do to assess/recognize someone with hearing impairment? (3)

Answer 7

• they can interview the resident/client for risk factors, awareness, and presence of hearing deficits
• opportunities for education
• referral for further assessment (physician, HCP, SLP, audiologist)

Question 8

What are 4 tests to assess the extent of hearing loss?

Answer 8

1. Whisper test (you can)
2. Finger-rubbing (you can)
3. Audiometer (audiologist)
4. Tuning Fork (HCP)

Question 9

What are the steps in conducting a whisper test? (4)

Answer 9

1. cover one ear at a time
2. From a distance of 2 feet, whisper a three syllable word as you exhale
3. If they cannot hear you, repeat once
4. Not hearing a word is determined to be a reasonable screen for hearing loss

Question 10

How do you conduct a finger rubbing test? (3)

Answer 10

1. rub your thumb and the first 2 fingers 2 inches away from the ear
2. Slowly move the rubbing fingers away until they can no longer hear
3. compare distance you can hear to distance the older adult hears

Question 11

What does the audiometer test? (3)

Answer 11

• test tone
• loudness and pitch
• wide range of tones used by an audiologist

Question 12

What tests does the tuning fork conduct?

Answer 12

• weber test or rinne test