Hearing Impairment

HEARING IMPAIRMENT
a full or partial decrease in the ability
to detect or understand sounds. It
can range from a mild hearing loss
to total deafness.

Degrees of Hearing Loss

A mild hearing loss is being unable
to hear low or distant sounds
A severe hearing loss is marked by
a deficit of not being able to
distinguish sounds.
watch this video..
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Types of Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss;
Sensorineural Hearing Loss; and
Mixed Hearing Loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

results from interference of sound
transmission through the external
ear and middle ear.

CAUSES of
Conductive Hearing Loss
ear obstruction;
- impacted cerumen,
- foreign body obstruction.
Infection
- viral,
- bacterial.
Otosclerosis;
Tympanosclerosis;
Trauma to the tympanic membrane
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Sensorineural Hearing Loss

impairment of the function of the
inner ear, the eight cranial nerve, or
the brain.

CAUSES of
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Presbycusis;
Sudden hearing loss (iopathic) ;
- Some of these specific causes
are:
1. rapid infectious processes,
such as meningitis or mumps;
2. ototoxic agents;
3. trauma;
4. metabolic disturbances; and
5. immunologic disorders.
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CAUSES of
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
(Continuation)

Congenital and hereditary factors;

Noise-induced;
Benign and malignant tumors;
Menieres Disease;
Central auditory dysfunction.

Mixed Hearing Loss

conductive and sensorineural
hearing components are present
simultaneously.
A client with a perforated eardrum
and presbycusis has both
conductive and sensorineural
hearing losses.

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Pathophysiology

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Conductive Hearing Loss

result of interference of sound
transmission into and through the
external ear and middle ear.
normal movement of the sound
vibrations through the ear canal,
tympanic membrane, or ossicles is
impeded because of the nature of
the disease process.

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Sensorineural Hearing Loss

results from disease or trauma to
the organ of Corti or auditory nerve
pathways of the inner ear leading to
the brain stem
Normal reception and transmission
of sound waves are disrupted.

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Medical Management
Restore hearing
- administration of antibiotics for
bacterial infections ,
- administration of oral
corticosteroids is used to
attempt to lessen the
progressive hearing loss or to
reverse a sudden loss,
- Antiviral medications have
been advocated for sudden
sensorineural hearing loss.
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Medical Management
(continuation)
Assist Hearing
- The use of hearing aids and
assistive listening devices can
greatly improve the clients
ability to communicate and
interact with others.

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Medical Management
(continuation)
Manage tinnitus
- Tinnitus maskers appear
similar to hearing aids except
that they generate noise.
Implement aural rehabilitation
- aural rehabilitation may improve
communication if
(1) hearing loss is irreversible or is
not amenable to surgical
intervention ,
(2) the client elects not to have
surgery.

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Nursing Interventions
Video on ..
Understanding the
Hearing Impaired

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Disorder of the External Ear

Otitis Externa

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Assessment

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Diagnostic

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Medical Management

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Nursing Management

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Tympanic Membrane Perforation

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Assessment

Discharges
Hearing loss
Pain
Tinnitus
vertigo

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Management

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Nursing Interventions

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Disorder of the Inner Ear

Otitis Media

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Assessment

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Medical Management

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Surgical Management

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Surgical Management

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Nursing Management
Prevent common colds
Avoid secondhand smoke
Hold baby in upright position when feeding

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