Download Ch 32, Hearing, Speech and Vision Problems

MNA
Mosby’s Long Term Care Assistant
Chapter 32 Hearing, Vision and Speech Problems
Hearing, Vision, Speech
Important for:
• Communication
• Self care
• Work
• Safety and Security
• Most activities
Common Causes of Loss
Birth defects
Accidents
Infections
Diseases
Aging
Ear Disorders
Otitis Media
Infection of
middle ear
Treated with
antibiotics
Tinnitus
Ringing, throbbing,
roaring sound in ears
Ear Disorders
Meiner’s Disease
Disease of the inner
ear.
Causes dizziness,
hearing loss, pain or
pressure, tinnitus.
Vertigo
Dizziness. Will need to lie down
Ear Disorders
Common Causes:
Damage to ear
Hearing Loss
Mild to severe.
Damage to auditory nerve
Occurs in all age
groups
Infections
Many causes
Cerumen
Ear wax
Exposure to loud noises
Drugs
Heart disease or diabetes
Stroke
Head injuries
Tumors
Heredity
Birth defects
Hearing Loss
May wear hearing
aids
Make sounds louder
Battery operated
Expensive
Follow manufacture's
directions for cleaning
If hearing does not
seem to be working:
check to be sure it is
turned on first
Speech Disorders
Aphasia
Inability to
use or
understand
language
Care of the Resident with Hearing and
Speech Disorders
Write down key words
Use simple words and short
sentences
Keep conversations short
State topic of conversation
first
Do not shout
Vision Loss
May effect one
or both eyes
May have
gradual or
sudden onset
Can occur at
any age
Eye Disorders
Glaucoma
Fluid in eye unable to
drain
Build up damages
optic nerve
Eventual blindness
No cure
Eye Disorders
Cataracts
Clouding of the
lens
Usually caused
by aging
Treated with
surgery
Eye Disorders
Age Related Macular
Degeneration
AMD
Blurs central
vision
Blind spot in
center of vision
Gradual onset
Eye Disorders
Diabetic
Retinopathy
Blood
vessels in
retina are
damaged
Blindness
Eye Disorders
Low Vision
Cannot be
corrected with
glasses, contacts,
surgery, drugs.
Diabetics at great
risk
Eye Disorders
Blindness
Legally blind person may
still have some vision
Many blind people learn to
read Braille
May use white cane with
red tip
May have a guide dog
Eye Disorders
Blindness
Do not change furniture arrangement.
12:00
Keep drawers closed, doors open
Keep hallways and walk ways free of
clutter
Explain location of food using the
face of a clock
Keep signal lite w/in reach
Identify self when entering room and
leaving room
Assist as needed while letting person
perform self care as able
9:00
5:00
Eye Disorders
Blindness
Braille
Touch reading and
writing system
using raised dots
for each letter of
the alphabet.
Eye Disorders
Ocular prosthesis
Artificial eye
Expensive: Be
careful!
Eye Disorders
Ocular prosthesis
If removable, must be
removed, cleaned and
reinserted.
Care of eye socket
includes: washing with
warm water or saline
Eye Glasses
Clean daily and prn
Clean glass lens with
warm water
Clean plastic lens with
special solution and cloth
Store in top drawer of
bedside cabinet when not
worn