Saint Thomas University Nursing Discussion

submission Instructions:

• You should respond to at least two of your peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts.
• All replies must be constructive and use literature where possible.

Discussion #1

Presbycusis is a degenerative hearing loss that occurs as we age, affecting the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. Presbycusis is the most common cause of hearing loss in adults and is characterized by progressive difficulty in hearing high-frequency sounds, while low-frequency sounds are usually unaffected. The three main types of Presbycusis are auditory neuropathy (AN), tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The symptoms of Presbycusis vary by person and may include: Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, A change in voice quality, such as a higher-pitched voice, or difficulty hearing consonants. Prolonged periods of time without being able to hear well enough to carry on a conversation, and Headaches from loud noises or ear pain from pressure on the ears (Löhler et al., 2019). Presbycusis is caused by damage to the outer hair cells of the inner ear. These cells are responsible for converting sound into electrical signals that are sent via the auditory nerve to the brain. The damage causes them to lose their function and eventually die off, resulting in gradual hearing loss. Presbycusis is an age-related hearing loss. There are several types of Presbycusis, and each has its own set of causes. The most common type is sensorineural Presbycusis, which is caused by damage to the inner ear. Other types of Presbycusis include conductive Presbycusis, caused by damage to the outer or middle ear, and mixed Presbycusis, a combination of sensorineural and conductive Presbycusis.

It is important to intervene with patients that have Presbycusis. Many different types of interventions-education measures can be taken in order to help these patients. Three of the most important interventions-education measures to take with a patient with Presbycusis are: repairing the ear, using a hearing aid, and cochlear. These intervention-education measures are important because they can help the patient to improve their hearing and quality of life. The first intervention-education measure is to repair the ear. This can be done through surgery or medication. Surgery is a good option for patients with severe hearing loss who cannot wear a hearing aid due to their specific condition, but it comes with risks. Medications are another option for patients who want the least invasive treatment method possible. The second intervention-education measure is to use a hearing aid. A hearing aid can be used for all types of hearing loss, including Presbycusis. It provides amplified sound directly into the ear canal, which helps people with significant hearing loss. The third intervention-education measure is to use a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is a device that provides sound directly into the brain and bypasses damaged areas of the ear. It has been shown to improve hearing in patients with severe hearing loss effectively.

Retinal diseases are often caused by inherited genes that can be passed down from parents to children. The most common hereditary form is retinitis pigmentosa, characterized by progressive loss of central and peripheral vision over time (Fahim, 2018). Patients with this condition usually have little or no vision at 20 years old; however, some patients develop even more advanced diseases as they age. Another common retinal disease is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which develops when blood vessels grow abnormally and leak proteins into the eye’s retina. Over time this leads to loss of central vision and an enlarged blind spot in one eye. This condition typically affects people between 50 and 80 years old but can occur much earlier in some cases. A third common retinal disease is diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when diabetes affects the blood vessels in your retina. This condition may cause blindness if not detected early and treated properly.

Discussion #2

Presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, is a debilitating disease with a complicated etiology that affects tens of millions of people worldwide and roughly half of those over 65 in the United States (Say et al., 2021). The loss is usually bilateral, causing difficulty hearing high-pitched tones and conversational speech (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). The causes of age-related hearing loss are thought to be genetic and environmental. Men are more affected by this condition than women. This condition’s origin is yet unknown.

Some signs and symptoms that could be seen in patients with this condition are not answering when spoken to, talking loudly, paying attention to the speaker’s lips, turning up the radio or TV volume, putting one palm over one ear, and tilting the head to one side when someone is speaking (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). The causes of presbycusis are multifaceted. In addition to physiologic and anatomical alterations brought on by aging-related deterioration, genetic factors are among the additional contributing elements (Cheslock & De Jesus, 2022). It is believed that glutamate signaling, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones all contribute to it. Hearing loss occurs more frequently in postmenopausal women who use progestin and a combination of hormone replacement therapy. Presbycusis has also been linked to exposure to loud noises and ototoxic substances such as salicylates, loop diuretics, aminoglycosides, and some chemotherapeutic drugs. Ototoxicity has also been linked to certain occupational and environmental exposures to toxins such as toluene, styrene, lead, carbon monoxide, mercury, and other toxins (Cheslock & De Jesus, 2022). This problem has also been associated to a history of ear infections and the presence of several systemic disorders.

Studies aimed at establishing a clear association for the cause have not been successful. As a result, the diagnosis entails eliminating other potential causes of hearing loss, such as infections, head trauma, metabolic disorders, vascular diseases, and heart disease (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). It is important for nurses when caring for patients with this condition to speak clearly and use a normal tone of voice. Patients and their families need to be instructed on how to use and where to obtain assistive listening devices (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). Nurses must educate patients and family members that when using hearing aids, they need to perform daily listening and battery checks. These devices must be stored in a hearing aid drying container with batteries removed.

Vision is an important sense that is needed to complete ADLs. Age-related changes and macular or retinal diseases that occur can affect seeing (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). For example, age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in those over 50 years of age. Damage to the macula in AMD results in alterations to the center of the field of vision. AMD symptoms include a black spot in the center of the field of vision, a loss of color vision, words that appear blurry, and straight lines that appear wavy. Retinal detachment is another condition that occurs when the sensory layer of the retina and pigmented layer separate. Aging can cause rips or perforations in the retina, and when fluid leaks between the layers, detachment occur (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). Flashes of light, vision loss, and a veil or curtain blocking vision are all symptoms. Hypertension retinopathy is caused by chronic uncontrolled hypertension (Meiner & Yeager, 2019). The retina will suffer gradual damage as a result, with little to no symptoms. Vascular wall hyperplasia and permanent artery constriction are among the abnormalities found. These senses are crucial for human functioning and affect the quality of life of our patients.