CSAD 200 Final Exam

Hearing Loss in Adults

• Definition: An invisible disability often mistaken for cognitive decline.

• Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss:

  • Detrimental effects on social, emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.

  • Social withdrawal and frustration.

  • Increased risks of depression, anger, paranoia, and denial.

• Common Reasons for Resistance to Treatment:

  • Stigma: Misconceptions about age and severity.

  • Cost: High prices of hearing aids.

Differentiating Hearing Loss from Handicap

• Hearing Loss: Clinical measurement indicating reduced hearing acuity.

• Handicap: Subjective impact on daily living activities; distinguishes between the medical condition and personal experience.

Impact of Hearing Loss

• Statistics: More than 75% of adults with hearing loss remain undiagnosed or untreated.

• Impacts include:

  • Withdrawal from social situations.

  • Physical health decline and lifestyle limitations.

  • Negative effects on education and vocational choices.

  • Strained interpersonal relationships.

Types of Adult Hearing Loss

• Conductive Hearing Loss:

  • Involves problems in the outer/middle ear.

• Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

  • Involves issues in the inner ear.

• Mixed Hearing Loss:

  • Combination of conductive and sensorineural loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

• Characteristics:

  • Less common in adults than children.

  • Often treatable via medical or surgical means.

  • Symptoms may include aural fullness, pain, and discharge.

• Causes:

  • Cerumen blockage, trauma, otitis media, tympanic membrane rupture, ossicle dislocation, otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth).

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

• Overview: Most common type of adult hearing loss.

• Mechanism: Damage to outer/inner hair cells in the cochlea.

• Symptoms:

  • Loss of hearing acuity (outer hair cell damage).

  • Hearing distortion (inner hair cell damage).

  • Often associated with tinnitus and difficulty in noisy environments.

• Dynamic Range Issues:

  • Increased difficulty hearing soft sounds.

  • Reduced tolerance for loud sounds.

Etiology of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

• Common Causes:

  • Age-related (presbycusis), noise-induced exposure, and conditions like Meniere’s disease, diabetes, tumors affecting auditory nerves, and ototoxic medications.

Treatment Options for Adult Hearing Loss

• Counseling: Coping strategies for dealing with hearing loss.

• Assistive Devices: Includes captioned telephones and TV transmitters.

• Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants: Essential for hearing amplification.

• Aural Rehabilitation: Focus on communication strategies and repairing breakdowns.

Aural Rehabilitation Strategies

• Important for preventing the deterioration in quality of life due to hearing loss.

• Techniques Include:

  • Improving visual cues, reducing background noise, and seeking assistance when needed.

  • Training for utilizing hearing aids effectively, group counseling, and promoting self-advocacy.

Assistive Technology

• Enhance hearing and communication:

  • Types of hearing aids include BTE, ITE, and BAHA.

Hearing Aid Cost Factors

• Costs range between $1000 to over $6000 depending on features.

• Considerations about insurance coverage and financing options.

Audiological Assessment

• Case History: Important for assessing the patient's hearing and health background prior to testing methods.

• Involves gathering information on hearing losses and symptoms like pain, dizziness, and ringing.

Audiometric Measurements

• Audiogram: Graphical representation of hearing thresholds by frequency.

  • Classification:

    • Right ear denoted by O or Δ; left by X or □ for air conduction.

    • Bone conduction indicated by < or [ for the right ear; > or ] for the left ear.

Treatment and Management of Hearing Loss

• Amplification Candidacy: Determines if individuals benefit from hearing aids based on audiometric results and word discrimination scores.

• Components of hearing aids include microphones, receivers, digital signal processors, and batteries for sound processing and amplification.

Understanding Hearing Aids

• Connectivity: Hearing aids can connect to various devices enhancing usability in daily life.

• Troubleshooting: Addressing common issues related to fit, technical functionality, and psychological adaptation needs after fitting.

Aural Rehabilitation and Counseling

• Considered critical for successful adjustment to hearing loss.

• Emphasizes personal adjustment and support in addition to education about hearing loss.

• Goal: Help individuals manage both auditory and non-auditory consequences of hearing loss, improving their quality of life.