Hearing loss: Conductive versus sensorineural

Author(s):  
Thomas Payne ◽  
Gentle Wong

Hearing loss has a significant impact on quality of life, and may even compromise an individual’s ability to work and their safety – we use our hearing to constantly detect and react to environmental hazards around us. Hearing loss can have a profound impact on a person’s life. This is especially true for certain patient groups. For instance, the elderly, and those with co-existing problems that affect their ability to communicate (such as dementia, cerebrovascular disease or psychiatric disorders). Even those without co-morbidities suffer the burden of disease where communication is impaired: the young who are developing their speech and language skills and adults with language barriers or other impediments to their speech. The hearing apparatus is made up of conductive and sensorineural pathways, which may be affected by pathology, leading to deafness. This article describes the aetiology of conductive and sensorineural deafness, details the relevant clinical assessment and outlines management strategies in community practice.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  

As dementia progresses, the elderly with dementia often have difficulties finishing their meals and weight loss is a common feature at this stage of their dementia journey. Eating disorders cause tremendous caregiver stress and burden. In considering provision of best care for this group of elderly, the hospital is probably not the best place and yet, they are frequently brought in to the hospital to seek help for fever, pneumonia, dislodged feeding tube, medical complications arising from poor feeding and dehydration. It is important to understand the aetiology of poor feeding among this group of patients and advise the patients and their family on the appropriate management strategies to improve the intake of food and to maximize their quality of life. At this stage of dementia, focusing on means to ensure nutritional needs are met may end up causing further harm and distress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (05) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Filomena da Ponte

Aging, consensually assumed as a process that affects and alters significantly the cognitive and behavioral functions of the human being , encompassing multiple effects on a number of clinically significant variables , the most important being those that directly relate to the movement, ability to balance the effectiveness of mental functioning and sensory functions such as taste, smell , sight and hearing . Hearing loss in the elderly, scientifically called presbiacustia emerges quietly and is increased progressively with advancing age. This study had as its aim to contribute to the achievement of the best quality of life for elderly individuals with hearing loss (presbycusis). Thus, the objectives targeted were: trying to understand the motivations of the elderly to the use of hearing aids; determine the degree of satisfaction of users of these prostheses; evaluate how Preabycusis affects the quality of life of the elderly. The method used was qualitative oriented once interviewed the elderly users of the home. The sample was composed of 110 participants, with presbycusis, 69 female and 41 male (institutionalized seniors).


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-105
Author(s):  
N. V Prisyazhnaya ◽  
A. S Zhuravlev ◽  
N. Yu Viatkina

Health is the fundamental value of every individual, and its violations, especially those that are burdened by risk of disability, are the key factor of reducing quality of life of individual. The extent of prevalence of hearing impairment in population, accompanied by multiple problems in organization of social, professional and family life of patients, determines high social importance of the issue. The article presents results of medical and sociological study (focus group) of quality of life of patients with diagnosis "sensorineural hearing loss" (as exemplified by patients of Moscow multi-field hospital). The onset of disease, in addition to problems of physical well-being (pain, dizziness, disorientation, etc.) causes person sensorineural hearing loss reducing quality of life, and, above all, resulting in multiple communication problems at the level of everyday personal and social interaction. Despite the fact that the study participants believe that there is no negative attitude and stigma towards people with hearing loss among Russians, the respondents noted prevalence of general intolerant attitude towards disabled people. The widespread of sensorineural hearing loss among able-bodied population is accompanied with low level of public awareness of principles of prevention of hearing loss, the need for timely corresponding treatment, as well as peculiarities of interaction with people suffering hearing loss. The majority of respondents indicate high ability to work with adequate treatment and selection of hearing device and make adjustments to organization, and the support of family and working community.


2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P57-P58
Author(s):  
Alexandros Georgolios ◽  
Kelley Melissa Dodson ◽  
Cristina Baldassari ◽  
Patrick G Maiberger ◽  
Aristides Sismanis

Objective To assess audiologic performance and quality of life in geriatric cochlear implantation patients and to determine whether comorbid medical conditions, etiology, and duration of hearing loss impact audiologic and quality of life outcomes. Methods Geriatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation between 1990 and 2006 were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were 55 years of age or older at time of implantation and post-lingual hearing loss. Patients with primary language other than English were excluded. 49 cochlear implant recipients were identified. A group of younger implanted patients was used as a control. All patients completed standardized audiologic tests including the Hearing In Noise Test. Validated surveys, including the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly, were used to assess quality of life. Results The mean age at implantation was 69.5 (range 58–85) and the average time interval from the implantation to the completion of the surveys was 73.2 months (6 to 229). Identified comorbid conditions included hypertension, diabetes, and malignancies, among others. Audiologic performance and quality of life scores between the two groups were similar. In the geriatric group there was no difference in patient satisfaction between subgroups with 0–1, 2–3 or > 3 comorbid conditions. Conclusions Our results suggest that the audiologic performance and quality of life scores between the older and younger age groups are similar. In the geriatric group associated comorbidities did not interfere with patient satisfaction as assessed by survey instruments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Vinicius Lessa de Souza

Geriatrics help prevent and promote actions that help to minimize the impacts on the quality of life of the elderly. Being the nurse together with a multidisciplinary team, of vital importance in the development of these actions, The Nurse seeks to adapt the reality and the environment to which the elderly person is, thus enabling a better quality of life in this environment. The audiologist audiologist aims at a concern in hearing health, seeking to assist in the prevention and promotion of actions that help patients to have a more effective social interaction and avoid isolation in the face of difficulties that they may present. In short, the natural aging process causes damage to various functions of the human body, and one of them is auditory. The presence of hearing loss has several negative consequences for the quality of life of individuals, especially social isolation and in these cases hearing aids end up being strong allies to minimize the impacts that hearing loss causes on people's lives. Thus, this work aims to relate the issue of social isolation caused by hearing loss, increased risk of depression in the selection process and adaptation of hearing aids for the elderly and the role of the geriatric nurse aiming at improving the quality of life and preventing problems that may arise. In this study, a bibliographic search was made in the databases and an interface between two areas of health: Nursing and Speech Therapy, and its search to improve the quality of life of the elderly population as a social being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (1132) ◽  
pp. 120.3-120
Author(s):  
Emma Barnard ◽  
Abigail Tucker ◽  
Mona Mozaffari ◽  
Tathyane Teshima

What is the power of human sensation? How does our ability to hear, salivate and taste affect everyday life? It is typical that patients suffering or surviving head and neck diseases continue to be impaired by disabilities and sensory disorders that are often overlooked by clinicians and patients alike. Not least because our senses of hearing and taste are hidden, by virtue of their anatomy. The theme of ‘hidden disability’ came to the project team in their observations of vulnerable patients, in particular the elderly, those suffering dementia, Sjogren Syndrome and survivors of head and neck cancer. Too readily, aspects affecting the quality of life of these patients are not recognised or even ignored.Hearing and salivation are taken for granted by the public, by patients and even by clinicians. As such the team recognised a need to raise awareness especially amongst clinicians of the hidden nature of hearing loss and dry mouth amongst vulnerable patient groups.A dry and silent world: living with hidden disabilities sought to encourage a three-way dialogue between patients, clinicians and academics mediated and documented through art.A dry and silent world: living with hidden disabilities was a collaboration between King’s College London’s Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology and Emma Barnard. It was supported by the university’s Culture team.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-95
Author(s):  
Kai-Uwe Kern ◽  
Melanie Sohns ◽  
Birgit Heckes ◽  
Christian Elling

Background: Chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain leads to severe impairments in physical functioning and quality of life. Patients & methods: Data of patients with severe chronic knee and/or hip OA pain were extracted from the database of a prospective, noninterventional trial to assess the benefits of tapentadol prolonged release (PR) in elderly patients (>65 years of age; n = 1162) compared with younger patients (≤65 years of age; n = 498). Results: Tapentadol PR treatment (up to 3 months) significantly reduced pain intensity and pain-related restrictions on daily functioning and significantly improved physical and mental quality of life in both patient groups. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was low. Conclusion: Tapentadol PR is a useful strong analgesic to improve pain intensity, physical functioning and quality of life in elderly OA patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elad Leron ◽  
Adi Y. Weintraub ◽  
Salvatore A. Mastrolia ◽  
Polina Schwarzman

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is a chronic medical condition which has a major influence on the quality of life in a significant amount of the population. OAB affects performance of daily activities and has an estimated prevalence of 16.5%. Many sufferers do not seek medical help. Moreover, many family physicians and even gynecologists are not familiar with this issue. Usually patients suffer from OAB in advanced age. Nocturia is reported as the most bothersome symptom in the elderly population. The aim of our review was to discuss all aspects of this challenging disorder and suggest tools for assessment and management strategies. Practitioners can easily overlook urinary complains if they not directly queried. We would like to encourage practitioners to give more attention to this issue.


Author(s):  
Santosh K. Swain

Age related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the commonest health conditions of the elderly people which have an important relation with the cognition. Long standing hearing deprivation leads to decline of the cognitive performance. This has impact on quality of communication and result in social isolation, depression and enhances the dementia. Cognitive decline may be misdiagnosed or over-diagnosed when the sensory abilities of the patients are not properly evaluated. Adequate intervention by use of hearing aid or cochlear implant improves the communication, cognitive function, social, emotion function and positively impact on the quality of life. With rise of the elderly population and concomitant increase of ARHL with associated cognitive impairment, it is imperative to discuss this morbid clinical entity in present scenario. Cognitive decline in elderly age have a profound impact on the affected person, on caregivers and society. The financial costs for cognitive impairment in ARHL are also major source of concern for the society. In this review article, we focus on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, hypotheses of etiological mechanisms between the ARHL and cognitive decline or impairment, impact of cognitive impairment on quality of life and prevention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
Ya. L. Shcherbakova ◽  
◽  
S. M. Megrelishvili ◽  
V. E. Kuzovkov ◽  
S. A. Karpishchenko ◽  
...  

Profound hearing loss makes it difficult for a person to fully integrate into society. Cochlear implantation is rightfully considered a universal and an effective method of rehabilitation of patients with severe and profound hearing loss. The advantages of binaural hearing are well known; the advantages of bilateral cochlear implantation over monolateral implantation are undeniable, due to the restoration of all binaural hearing effects. At the moment, the relevance of simultaneous cochlear implantation, especially among children, and its benefits compared with sequential implantation are being discussed. It is known that there are special groups of patients among patients with hearing loss; they are either unrehabilitated at all or rehabilitation measures for which are ineffective. Special patient groups include patients with unilateral acquired or congenital deafness, asymmetric and residual hearing loss. Patients in these groups often complain of poor speech intelligibility, especially against a background of noise, inability to localize the source of sound, one-sided or two-sided tinnitus, and, as a result, a deterioration in the quality of life. All abovementioned makes us think about the need to revise the indications for cochlear implantation and study this issue in detail.


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