Chapter 39 - Providing eye and ear care. Part of your clinical assisting duties for a general medical practice may involve performing basic tests for vision and hearing. You may also assist the doctor in providing treatment related to the eyes and ears. You will be expected to know the basic structure and function of these organs and to advise patients about general eye and ear care and concerns.
PowerPoint® to accompany Medical Assisting Chapter 39 Second Edition Ramutkowski Booth Pugh Thompson Whicker Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Permission required for reproduction or display Providing Eye and Ear Care Objectives: 391 Describe the anatomy and physiology of the eye. 392 State the ways that vision changes with age 393 Describe ways to detect vision problems 394 List treatment of eye disorders 395 Identify ways that patients can practice preventive eye care 396 Describe the anatomy and physiology of the ear Providing Eye and Ear Care Objectives (cont.) 397 State ways that hearing changes with age 398 List the types of hearing loss 399 Explain the procedures for screening and diagnosing ear problems 3910 Describe treatments for ear and hearing disorders 3911 Explain how patients can be educated about preventive ear care Introduction Duties may involve performing basic tests for vision and hearing You may also assist the doctor in providing treatment related to eyes and ears You will need to know the basic structure and function of these organs and to advise patients about general eye and ear care and concerns Vision Eye Sclera Cornea Choroid Iris, pupil, ciliary body, lens, aqueous humor & vitreous humor Can you identify the parts of this eye? Inner layer Retina Rods Cones Process of Seeing Eye works like a camera Light passes through the cornea, pupil, lens & fluids of the eye which focuses the light onto the retina The image is projected upside down on the retina Retina converts the light into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain The brain interprets these impulses, turns the image rightside up and develop a picture of the object The Aging Eye With age, changes occur in the eye: Amount of fat tissue diminishes – may cause droopy eyelids Quality & quantity of tears decrease Conjunctiva becomes thinner Cornea begins to appear yellow Sclera may develop brown spots The Aging Eye (cont.) With age, changes occur in the eye: Iris causes the pupil to become smaller Lens becomes denser and more rigid Changes in the retina may make vision fuzzy Ability to adapt to changes in light intensities may be reduced Night vision may be impaired The Aging Eye (cont.) With age, changes occur in the eye: Peripheral vision is reduced Vitreous humor breaks down causing the patient to see floaters Rubbing of the vitreous humor on the retina produces flashes of lights or “sparks’ Vision Testing Ophthalmologist – medical doctor who is an eye specialist Vision Tests performed: Distance vision – Snellen chart Near vision – handheld charts Contrast sensitivity – Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity chart Color Vision – Richmond pseudoisochromatic color test Can you identify the number in this portion of the color vision test? 10 Ear and Balance The brain constantly monitors the position of one’s body on the information received from the semicircular canals, eyes, and muscles A change in position is detected by the canal and passed to the brain. The brain uses this information to maintain balance 20 The Aging Ear The external ear appears larger – caused by growth of cartilage and loss of skin elasticity Ear lobe gets longer and may be wrinkled. Less production of cerumen Middle ear begins to shrink and appears dull and gray Bones of the middle ear degenerate and don’t move as freely Semicircular canals become less sensitive and cause a reduced sensitivity affecting balance 21 Hearing Loss Types of hearing loss Conductive – caused by interruption in transmission of sound waves to the inner ear Caused by obstruction of the ear canal, Infection of the middle ear Reduced movement of the incus Sensorineural –caused when there is damage to the inner ear, the nerve that leads from the ear to the brain, or the brain itself 22 Working with Patients with a Hearing Impairment Onethird of patients between 65 and 75 and onehalf of patients between 75 and 79 have some hearing loss Many patients wear hearing aids to amplify normal speech 23 Improving Communications Speak at a reasonable volume Don’t shout Speak in clear, lowpitched tones Avoid speaking directly into the patient’s ear Stand 3 to 6 feet away and face the patient Avoid overemphasizing your lip movements Avoid hand gestures Treat patients with a hearing impairment with patience and respect 24 Hearing Tests Hearing Tests Audiometer – electronic device that measures hearing acuity by producing sounds in specific frequencies and intensities Tuning forks – differentiating conductive from sensorineural hearing loss 25 Diagnostic Testing Tympanometry – measures eardrum’s ability to move and gauges pressure in the middle ear Used to detect diseases and abnormalities of the middle ear Uses a small, soft rubber cuff placed over the external ear producing an airtight seal Measures and prints out a graph of results 26 Treating Ear and Hearing Problems Problems Cerumen impaction Rupture of the eardrum Otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear) Otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear) 27 Ear Meds and Irrigation You will teach patients how to administer ear medications at home Irrigation of the ear may relieve inflammation or irritations of the ear Irrigation may loosen earwax or foreign body 28 Hearing Aids Hearing aids consist of the following parts: A tiny microphone to pick up sounds An amplifier to increase the volume of sounds A tiny speaker to transmit sounds to the ear 29 Hearing Aids (cont.) Otologist – medical doctor specializing in the health of the ear Audiologist – nonphysician specialist who focuses on evaluation and correcting hearing problems Hearing aids run on batteries for about 2 weeks 30 Apply Your Knowledge A sixmonth old is seen at your clinic. The mother states that the infant has been cranky and pulling at her ears especially when she lays her down. What do you think might be wrong? 31 Apply Your Knowledge Answer A sixmonth old is seen at your clinic. The mother states that the infant has been cranky and pulling at her ears especially when she lays her down. What do you think might be wrong? The infant may have otitis media, however a thorough examination of the infant by the physician is necessary 32 Summary Medical Assistant You can help prevent, detect and treat eye and ear problems A basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the eyes and ears will help you provide good eye and ear care to patients 33 End of Chapter 34 ...Providing Eye and Ear Care Objectives: 39 1 Describe the anatomy and physiology of the eye. 39 2 State the ways that vision changes with age 39 3 Describe ways to detect vision problems 39 4 List treatment of eye disorders... 39 7 State ways that hearing changes with age 39 8 List the types of hearing loss 39 9 Explain the procedures for screening and diagnosing ear problems 39 10 Describe treatments for ear and hearing disorders 39 11 Explain how patients can be educated about ... 39 4 List treatment of eye disorders 39 5 Identify ways that patients can practice preventive eye care 39 6 Describe the anatomy and physiology of the ear Providing Eye and Ear Care Objectives (cont.) 39 7 State ways that hearing changes with age