week 4: sensory perception OBJ 1

what is sensation?

• ability to perceive stimulation through one’s sensory organs

what is perception?

• how one receives, organizes, and interprets sensation

what is sensory perception?

• ability to recognize input and, through various physiologic processes in the body, translate the data into meaningful information

what does sensory input include?

• pitch (sensory input)

• frequency of waves (sound waves)

• higher pitch more frequent waves

• loudness (sensory input)

  • energy of the wave (how much energy goes through the wave)

what is included in the peripheral auditor system?

• external/outer ear

• middle ear

• inner ear

what is included in the central auditory system?

• cranial never VII

  • balance and hearing

what is considered the external eye? (extraocular)

• eye lid

• conjunctiva

• lacrimal duct

• eye muscles

what is considered in the internal eye (ocular and intraocular)

• outer sclera and cornea

• middle layer

• choroid and ciliary bodies and iris

• inner layer

• retina

what are the nerves associated with visual function?

• cranial nerves II, III, IV, V, VI

What can cause vision impairment?

• Congenital anomalies

• Infection (e.g., gonorrhea)

• Cancer (e.g., intraocular cancer, retinoblastoma)

What is poor vision?

• Best corrected visual acuity <20/40 in the best eye

• Person sees at 20 ft what average person sees at 40 ft

What is blindness?

• Best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the best eye

• Sees at 20 ft what average person sees at 200 ft

What are examples of primary vision impairment?

• Cataracts

• Glaucoma

• Retinal detachment

• Macular degeneration

What is an example of secondary vision impairment?

• Diabetes

• Diabetic retinopathy

What does “hard of hearing” mean?

• Hearing loss in one or both ears

• Can range from mild to severe

• Person generally uses spoken language to communicate

What is deafness?

• Significant hearing loss

• Person may use sign language to communicate

• Causes can occur throughout the lifespan

How common is disabling hearing loss in adults over 65?

• About 25% of people over 65 are affected.

what may cause changes in taste and smell?

• infections may cause temporary changes

• dementia associated with loss of smell

• trauma to olfactory ciliary receptor

what causes changes to tactile sensation?

• acute injury

What is presbyopia?

• Age-related change in vision

• Reduced ability to focus on nearby objects

What is presbycusis?

• Age-related hearing loss

How does the sense of smell change with aging?

• Ability to smell decreases

• Ability to distinguish smells decreases

How does taste change with aging?

• Sense of taste decreases

How does the tactile threshold change with aging?

• Tactile threshold increases

• More stimulus is needed to sense heat or cold

What sensory changes can occur with normal aging?

• Presbyopia → vision

• Presbycusis → hearing

• ↓ smell and ability to distinguish smells

• ↓ taste

• ↑ tactile threshold

What are some normal sensory findings in children?

• at 1 year old → vision is about 20/50 (when born do not have full vision)

• Hearing is fully developed at birth

How does smell change with aging?

• Reduced sense of smell

• Reduced ability to distinguish smells

• Begins around age 60

How does taste change with aging?

• Sense of taste decreases with age

How does tactile threshold change with aging?

• Tactile threshold increases

• More pressure/stimulation is needed to feel a sensation

  • pressure ulcers

What is presbyopia?

• Age-related loss of lens elasticity

• Lens becomes less able to change shape

• Causes difficulty focusing on near objects

How does presbyopia affect near vision?

• Decreased ability to focus on near objects

• Fine print may become difficult to see

• Related to age-related changes in the ciliary body

What happens to the lens with age?

• Becomes stiffer

• Becomes denser (heavier)

• Becomes more opaque

How can age-related lens changes affect light and colour vision?

• Decreased ability to adapt to light

• Lens opaqueness can affect colour vision

• Darker blues may be seen

• White light may appear more yellow

• can happen as early as 40

How common are age-related hearing changes in older adults?

• Hearing changes are among the most prevalent chronic health conditions in people over 65.

What are risk factors for impaired sensory perception?

• Aging process

• Congenital factors/genetics

• Medications (impact sensory perception)

• Infections

• Injury

When does visual acuity begin to decline?

• Visual acuity can begin to decline in the fourth decade of life.

How common is hearing loss in adults over 75?

• About 50% of adults over 75 experience hearing loss.

What are consequences of impaired sensory perception?

• Reduced quality of life

• Increased risk of injury and falls

• Increased risk of burns, cold, or pressure injuries

• Difficulty detecting spoiled food or smoke

• Psychosocial effects

What are risk factors for impaired vision?

• Genetic factors

• Smoking

• Nutrient deficiencies

• UV exposure from sunlight

• Environmental conditions

How can the environment contribute to impaired vision?

• UV rays can damage the eyes

• Warmer temperatures are associated with earlier presbyopia

• Environmental conditions can cause dry eyes

• faster age related

What lifestyle factors can increase risk of impaired vision?

• Smoking

• Nutrient deficiencies

What medical conditions increase the risk of visual impairment?

• Diabetes → ↑ risk of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy

• Hypertension + elevated cholesterol → ↑ risk of AMD

• Malnutrition → ↑ risk of cataracts and dry eyes

What medications can have adverse effects on vision?

• NSAIDs

• Anticholinergics

• Corticosteroids

What medications can cause dry eyes or keratoconjunctivitis sicca?

• Diuretics

• Antihistamines

• Anticholinergics

What population factors increase the risk of hearing impairment?

• Male gender

• Increased age

• Genetic predisposition

• Men with hair in the ear canal

• Education level ≤ high school diploma

• Nutritional deficiencies

What lifestyle factors increase the risk of hearing impairment?

• Occupational exposure to noise

• Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

• Smoking

• Ototoxic work environments

What medical conditions can contribute to hearing impairment?

• Diabetes

• Hypertension

• Hypothyroidism

• Head injury

• High fevers

• Renal failure

• Cardiovascular disease

• Brain tumour

What are common ototoxic medications that can contribute to hearing impairment?

• Furosemide

• Ciprofloxacin

What is tinnitus?

• Perception of sound when there is no acoustic stimulus

• Can affect daily activities

What type of tinnitus is most commonly associated with sensorineural hearing loss?

• High-pitched tinnitus → commonly associated with sensorineural loss

What type of tinnitus is associated with conductive hearing loss?

• Low-pitched tinnitus

• Less common than high-pitched tinnitus

What can cause tinnitus?

• Noise exposure

• Excessive cerumen

• Medications

• Jaw/neck problems

What medication is a common cause of tinnitus?

• Aspirin

• About 200 prescription and nonprescription medications list tinnitus as a potential side effect

Where can the root cause of tinnitus occur?

• Vestibulocochlear nerve

• Inner ear

• Central processing centres of the brain

How can tinnitus affect a person?

• Can interfere with daily activities

• May affect the person's ability to function normally

How can impaired hearing affect an older adult?

• Can be more devastating than vision loss

• Most common sensory impairment in Canadians over 60

• Affects about 47% of people

• Diminishes quality of life

What functional and social effects can hearing loss cause?

• Decreased function

• Miscommunication

• Social isolation

• Depression

• Reduced income/employment

What safety and psychological effects can impaired hearing cause?

• Increased safety risks

• Increased risk for falls

• Depression

• May become suspicious because they misunderstand conversations

How is hearing impairment commonly managed in older adults?

• Often undertreated and underdiagnosed

• Rarely included in primary care screening

• Hearing aids can be difficult to use

How effective can hearing aids be for older adults with hearing deficits?

• Can improve hearing for about 90% of older adults with hearing deficits

How is hearing impairment classified in older adults?

• Considered a geriatric syndrome

What are examples of primary prevention for sensory impairment?

• Protect eyes, ears, mouth, and nose

• Safety goggles

• Earplugs

• Wear helmets

• Proper oral hygiene

• Immunizations

• Good maternal health

• Rational medication use to prevent ototoxic hearing loss

What is an example of secondary prevention for sensory impairment?

• Vision screening

• Hearing screening

What are examples of collaborative treatment for sensory impairment?

• Surgery for eye and hearing problems

• Tube replacement in childhood

• Pharmacotherapy

• Beta-adrenergic eye drops

interrelated concepts