Non Verbal and Visual clues
What visual cue lets a hearing-impaired resident know you are actively engaged and ready to communicate?
maintaining direct eye contact
If you know that a resident uses a hearing aid what should you always make sure of?
that their hearing aid is on and functioning.
True or False: your ears clean themselves
True: as long as they get water in there, the ear can clean themselves.
True or False: you can become deaf overtime
True: aging (presbycusis) : the natural breakdown of tiny hair cells or nerve pathways in the inner ear as people grow older is the most frequent cause.
what are symptoms of hearing loss that should be reported to the Nurse?
answers may vary (any answer counts if correct)
why should a NA avoid standing directly in front of a window while talking to a hearing impaired resident?
it creates a shadow on your face making it difficult for residents to read your lips or expression.
what is another way of communicating with a resident who is hearing impaired
non Verbal communication
If a high pitched whistling sound occurs what could it mean?
hearing aid is not inserted properly or volume is set too high.
This term describes sudden permanent damage to the inner ear caused by a single exposure to an extraordinary loud sound
Hint: think of a type of a wooden instrument you strum around a campfire
acoustic trauma
Where in the facility documentation does a nursing assistant find specific instructions regarding a resident’s hearing needs and communication preferences?
the residents care plan
what 3 facial actions should a NA avoid while speaking to a resident?
chewing gum, covering mouth, and turning away while talking
what is the definition of "Impairment"
a partial or complete loss of function or ability
what is the purpose of cerumen? ( earwax )
it helps protect the ear canal by trapping foreign materials.
What natural substance can build up inside the ear canal and cause temporary hearing impairment?
earwax
What action should a nursing assistant take immediately if a resident suddenly reports pain, drainage, or a rapid drop in hearing?
report observations directly to the charge nurse
True or False: exaggerating your lip movements makes speech much easier for someone to read.
False: over enunciating or exaggerating mouth movements distorts natural speech patterns. (makes lip reading hard)
SITUATION: a resident struggles to hear you while the TV is playing or in the dining room when its noisy. what should you do?
Reduce tv noise or close the door before starting the conversation. Make sure you have their full attention.
Why is a nursing assistant prohibited from inserting cotton swabs (Q-tips) into a resident's ear canal?
It can push earwax deeper against the eardrum or cause severe injury/punctures to the ear canal.
Name two external environmental or health factors that can cause acquired hearing impairment over time.
chronic exposure to loud noises & ear infections
A standardized care plan should clearly list a specific storage location and schedule for replacing these tiny power components
hearing aid batteries
when Visual clues are missing during phone calls or low light situations, individuals with hearing loss often experience this state of mental exhaustion.
listening fatigue
True or False: when speaking to a nursing home resident with hearing loss, shouting at a higher volume is more effective to help them hear.
False: shouting raises the pitch of your voice, age related hearing loss usually effects the ability to hear high pitched sounds.
Inserting sharp items or cotton swabs increases the risk of creating this type of hole in the membrane that separates the outer and middle ear.
ruptured eardrum
Medical term for age related hearing loss
presbycusis
OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)