What are the risk factors for elder hearing difficulties? - Answers - Aging process
- CVA or other vascular disorders
- Ototoxic medications (can be reversed if caught early; meds like loop diuretics, aspirin, chemo,
antibiotics,
- Infections (the more ear infections, the more problems with hearing)
- Male gender
- Genetic predisposition
- Impacted cerumen
- Medical conditons (stroke, otosclerosis, meningitis, mumps, Paget's disease, measles,
radiation to head / neck)
- Noise-induced hearing loss
-Toxic material exposure (e.g., lead)
What is presbyopia? - Answers Diminished ability to focus on near objects
What vision conditions cause increased glare and halos? - Answers Cataracts and glaucoma
What are the risk factors for elder visual difficulties? - Answers - Certain ethnicities (glaucoma is
more prevalent in African Americans and Hispanics)
- Hypertension
- CVA
- Uncontrolled / poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
- Poor nutrition
- Smoking or second-hand exposure
- Sunlight exposure
- Warmer environments, low humidity, windy areas
- Certain medications (NSAIDS, cortical steroids, Parkinson's meds)
What do red, orange, and yellow fruits / vegetables contain that help with vision (especially night
vision)? - Answers Beta-carotene
, How does discoloration of the lens over time affect color perception? - Answers Whites seem
more yellow; all colors seem darker
What is glaucoma? - Answers A group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness
by damaging the optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up and puts pressure on the
front part of your eye. It begins with peripheral vision loss but can progress to central vision loss.
It is assessed through eye pressure tests, visual field tests, and assessment of the optic nerve.
Interventions include laser treatments, surgery, and ear drops.
What are cataracts? - Answers A cloudiness in the lens of the eye due to deterioration. It is
assessed through seeing opaqueness and discoloration of the eye (visual acuity test, retinal
exam, fluid pressure check). You cannot see a pupil's response to light with cataracts.
Interventions include surgery, avoiding smoking, and limiting sunlight exposure.
How to promote wellness for hearing and vision? - Answers Hearing - education, assist in
keeping surroundings safe, hearing aids, sign language interpreters, amplified telephones,
therapeutic communication
Vision - education, corrective lenses, adequate lighting, bright and contrasting colors,
magnifying glass, large print, braille, service animals, assist in keeping surroundings safe,
comfort measures for dry eyes, maintaining / improving QOL, therapeutic communication
What is age-related macular degeneration? - Answers Causes vision loss in the central field.
Assessed through visual acuity test, pupil dilation, angiograms (for more complex cases).
Interventions include low-fat diet (low in saturated fats), no smoking, and keep BP down.
Support groups can help with social isolation.
What is Selye's stress theory (general adaptation syndrome)? - Answers Stage 1 (ALARM): body
realizes you're in trouble and the hypothalamus recognizes the threat, sending out hormones
that put you into fight-or-flight (raises blood glucose, anterior pituitary increases sodium levels,
water retention, suppresses immune system)
Stage 2 (RESISTANCE): Body attempts to go back to homeostasis and conserve resources
Stage 3 (EXHAUSTION): Illness and body system failures may occur if resistance fails; immune
system may begin to fail
What are the effects of stress in late life? - Answers Stress and depression often cause greater
immunological impairments. Even happy experiences, like marriage, can bring stressors.