Assessment of Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat

Tension headache

Caused by stress, poor posture, sleep.

Migraine

Triggered by hormonal changes, foods, stress.

Cluster headache

Awakens from sleep; linked to alcohol, nitroglycerin.

Thunderclap headache

Worst headache; indicates potential brain aneurysm.

Brain aneurysm

Weak spot on artery; bulges like bubble.

Concussion

Head injury; assess loss of consciousness.

Meningitis

Neck pain with stiffness, headache, fever.

Normocephalic

Round, symmetric skull; normal head shape.

Microcephaly

Abnormally small head size.

Macrocephaly

Abnormally large head size.

Bell's palsy

Cranial nerve 7 damage; caused by herpes.

Nystagmus

Oscillating eye movement; indicates inner ear issues.

Vertigo

Sensation of spinning; often related to inner ear.

Exophthalmos

Protruding eyes; associated with Grave's disease.

Goiter

Enlarged thyroid; caused by low iodine.

PERRLA

Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation.

Decreased tear production

Related to lacrimal gland involution in older adults.

Ectropion

Lower lid eversion; loss of elasticity.

Cataracts

Thickened, yellowed lens fibers; causes vision issues.

Accessory muscles

Muscles used for neck movement assessment.

Lymph nodes

Palpate for size, shape, mobility, tenderness.

Normal lymph nodes

Movable, discrete, soft, and nontender.

Pupillary constriction

Both pupils constrict in response to light.

Cranial nerve 3

Responsible for controlling pupillary constriction.

Accommodation

Convergence of eyes when focusing on near objects.

Snellen eye chart

Chart used to assess visual acuity with letters.

Visual acuity measurement

Top number is distance; bottom is normal vision distance.

Age-appropriate screening

Tools tailored to the patient's age for eye exams.

Fundus variation

Fundus color varies with individual's skin color.

Glaucoma screening

Health promotion recommendation for early detection.

Subjective data

Patient-reported symptoms regarding vision issues.

Strabismus

Deviation in the parallel alignment of eyes.

Diplopia

Seeing two images of a single object.

Red eye emergencies

Conditions causing sudden vision loss or trauma.

Intraocular pressure

Increased pressure associated with glaucoma.

Patient-centered care

Focus on individual patient's eye health needs.

Snellen chart procedure

Position patient 20 feet away for vision testing.

Opaque card use

Shield one eye during Snellen chart testing.

Reading glasses removal

Remove only reading glasses for vision testing.

Smallest line reading

Patient reads the smallest line on the chart.

Numeric fraction recording

Record vision result as a fraction (e.g., 20/20).

Conjunctiva and sclera inspection

Assess eye surface for color and clarity.

Pallor

Color change indicating possible anemia.

Glaucoma

Increased intraocular pressure damages peripheral vision.

Intraocular pressure

Pressure from aqueous humor in the eye.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Loss of central vision; peripheral vision intact.

Risk factors for AMD

Age >50, smoking, family history, UV exposure.

Diabetic retinopathy

Shade patches in the lens due to diabetes.

Cataracts

Clouding of lens, leading to vision impairment.

Preventable cataracts

80% preventable with surgery and lifestyle changes.

Conductive hearing loss

Mechanical dysfunction in external/middle ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Pathology of the inner ear; nerve degeneration.

Mixed hearing loss

Combination of conductive and sensorineural loss.

Normal hearing changes with aging

Gradual loss; cerumen becomes drier and harder.

Cerumen

Earwax that protects and lubricates the ear.

Tympanic membrane inspection

Should be pearly gray and translucent.

Hearing acuity tests

Assess hearing ability using various methods.

Audio meter

Device to test hearing by sound detection.

Whispered voice test

Test for hearing using whispered speech.

Tuning fork test

Tests air and bone conduction of sound.

Risk factors for cataracts

Age, smoking, obesity, diabetes, UV exposure.

Symptoms of cataracts

Blurry vision, glare, halos, poor night vision.

Monitoring glaucoma

Regular eye exams to check for pressure.

Corticosteroids and cataracts

Long-term use can increase cataract risk.

Nasal Polyps

Noncancerous growths in the nasal cavity.

Tongue Appearance

Pink, rough surface; may have white coating.

Older Adult Nose Changes

More prominent due to subcutaneous fat loss.

Taste and Smell Decline

Decreased olfactory nerve fibers and taste buds.

Candidiasis Infection

Fungal infection, increased risk in older adults.

Antibiotic Effects

Can cause black hairy tongue and Candidiasis.

Papillary Atrophy

Smoother tongue surface due to loss of papillae.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of gums, can relate to various factors.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, assess for coughing or choking.

Leukoplakia

White patches on the tongue, potential concern.

Cranial Nerve 10 Test

'Ah' test to assess throat function.

Cranial Nerve 12 Test

Sticking out tongue to assess motor function.

Cranial Nerve 9 and 10 Test

Gag reflex test for throat sensation.

Breast Symmetry

Normal breasts may have slight size differences.

Breast Skin Condition

Should be smooth and even in color.

Nipple Alignment

Nipples should be on the same plane.

Gynecomastia

Enlargement of male breast tissue, medication side effect.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Family history increases risk of breast cancer.

Inframammary Ridge Thickening

Normal change in lower breast with age.

Postmenopausal Breast Changes

Loss of glandular tissue leads to size decrease.