Hearing Loss: Conductive and Sensory Neural

Send us a text

Ever wondered why we lower our voices when communicating with those suffering from hearing loss and not raise it? Join me, Dr. Hobbock, as we explore the delicate mystery of sensory health, focusing especially on hearing loss. In this insightful episode, we break down the two primary types of hearing loss - conductive and sensory neural. We get to the root of conductive hearing loss, often caused by infections, trauma or wax build-up, and discuss simple solutions such as wax removal and the use of hearing aids. More importantly, we share some respectful and helpful tips on how to interact with those dealing with this type of hearing loss.

Moving on to the more complex sensory neural hearing loss, we delve into how sound distortion in the inner ear or cranial nerve, often caused by infection, ototoxic drugs, trauma, neuromas, noise, or the aging process, contributes to this type of hearing loss. We explore various ways to assess this condition, employing tools like a tuning fork or a whisper test. Further into the episode, we share some practical advice on how to communicate effectively with patients who have hearing loss, from reducing distractions to using visual aids. Lastly, we provide hands-on tips on how to look after hearing aids and cochlear implants. Tune in and gain practical insights into the common sensory issue that is hearing loss.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey and welcome to nursing with Dr Hobbock.
I'm continuing our sensoryjourney today, so we're gonna go
over hearing loss.
There's really only two typesof hearing loss that we're gonna
talk about.
We have conductive hearing lossand sensory Neural, and just
remember to keep the terms inyour mind.
Sensory neural so probablythat's gonna have to do with the

(00:23):
nerves.
Let's remember that there arethree different parts to the ear
.
You have the external ear, themiddle ear and the inner ear.
So inner ear disorders, thoseare usually going to be a
problem with the sensory fibersthat go to the central nervous
system.
Typically those are related tonerve issues and they're not

(00:45):
really helped with a hearing aid.
External and middle earproblems, which are conductive,
can result from infection,trauma or, a lot of the time,
seromon or wax buildup.
Those we can actually treateither by removing the wax or
with a hearing aid.
It's conductive hearing losses,the first one we're going to
talk about.
This is more likely what youthink about when you think of

(01:07):
hearing loss or Prispecusis,that loss of Hearing.
As we age and usually this isthe higher pitch sounds are lost
first.
I always recommend to mystudents when you're speaking to
someone with hearing lossBecause of age.
You want to make sure that youlower your voice, don't raise it
.
You want to go in the lowerregisters.

(01:29):
It's easier to hear thishearing loss.
Usually the sound is less.
It's still clear.
So if they raise the volumethey can hear hearing is normal.
So when we're speaking withthem, lower the register but
speak a little bit moreforcefully.
Don't yell at people.
That's not cool for anyone,even if you think that that's

(01:51):
going to help.
That's not.
That's not okay.
So we don't use those littlehorns anymore that you know, you
see in the cart.
Maybe I'm too old, maybe theyjust had them in my cartoons,
loony tunes, you know, put thehorn in the anyway.
Sensory neural hearing lossthis is when the sound passes
properly through the outer andmiddle ear but it's distorted by

(02:13):
something in the inner ear ordamage to the cranial nerve
eight or both.
It usually involves perceptualloss, so progressive and
bilateral loss of hearing.
It usually there's damage tothat eighth cranial nerve and
this is what you would use thattuning fork for.
If you're trying to find out ifa patient has hearing loss, a

(02:35):
lot of the Times we're going tosee this caused by infection,
ototoxic drugs remember we havemedications that can cause
ototoxicity, which is they'regoing to cause damage to hearing
, trauma, neuromas, noise andaging process Things that we
want to do to assess.
You're going to use that tuningfork, your whisper test.

(02:58):
Test if the patient can hearyou whisper something on either
side, one to two feet away.
If they can't respond, if youcover your mouth or you're
wearing a mask, indicates thepatient lip reads.
If they can't hear the watchticking five inches from their
ear.
If they shout when they'rehaving a conversation.
If they seem like they'restraining to hear, they're

(03:20):
turning their head in favor ofone ear.
My husband does that.
He's got one ear that's worsethan the other.
Hopefully he won't listen tothis and know I talked about him
answering questions Withinappropriate or incorrect
responses because they didn'thear what you said and, of
course, raising the volume ofthe radio or the TV, whatever
they're listening to Things thatwe can do.

(03:41):
We want to make sure we werejust reduced Distractions for
our patients.
Close the door, make sure theTV is off.
Patients are not going to mindif you ask them if they can turn
the TV off or mute it while youhave your conversations.
Make sure that we're payingclose attention To the patients.
We want to look and listen atthem during the conversation you

(04:02):
want to be facing the patient.
Don't try to turn your headaway or talk while you're doing
other things.
If you don't understand whatthey're saying, make sure that
you let them know.
Let the patient know that ifthey don't understand what
you're saying, to let you know.
Try not to hurry them.
Give them time to process whatyou've said to them and then use

(04:24):
your active listeningtechniques.
Speak slowly and distinctly.
Don't get going a hundred milesan hour.
I know we can do that sometimeswe feel rushed, but every
patient should be your onepatient that's in front of you
right now.
Everybody should feel likethey're your only patient, and
then we'll use visual aids if weneed to.
That might be a what whiteboardthat the patient can write on,

(04:46):
or a piece of paper, if needed.
A Lot of the time You'll bethinking about questions that
have to do with communication.
How will you communicate Withan older adult who's hearing
impaired?
So make sure that everybodyknows this patient may have some
hearing loss and we can maybeget an amplifier earphone
attachments.

(05:06):
You can actually use air podsand iPhone nowadays to help with
this and Make sure that we'retaking care of cochlear implants
or hearing aids properly, so wedon't want to dunk them in
water.
These things are expensive.
Make sure the patient has theircase and make sure that you get
those put away properly.

(05:26):
But we want to make sure thatthe patient has them if they
need them, want them to havetheir hearing aids and stuff.
That's really all I have to sayabout Hearing loss and I knew
this would be a short episode.
I'm gonna move on toNeurological conditions shortly
after I get this uploaded.
I hope you enjoyed and I'll seeyou next time on nursing with

(05:49):
dr pelvic.