Sensorineural hearing loss associated with age:

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

Presbycusis is the medical term for age-related hearing loss.
It is a type of sensorineural hearing loss, meaning it originates from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
The condition is progressive and typically bilateral, affecting both ears.
It is characterized by a gradual loss of hair cells in the cochlea, which are responsible for transducing sound waves into neural signals.
Clinically, it often manifests first as difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds (like 's' or 'th' sounds), which can make understanding speech difficult, especially in noisy environments.

Option B: Presbyopia is an age-related vision disorder, not a hearing disorder. It involves the loss of the eye's ability to focus on nearby objects.
Option C: Amblyopia, or 'lazy eye,' is a neurodevelopmental vision disorder that typically begins in infancy or early childhood. It is not related to aging or hearing loss.
Option D: Otosclerosis causes conductive hearing loss, not sensorineural hearing loss. It is due to abnormal bone remodeling in the middle ear that immobilizes the stapes bone.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Age-related sensorineural hearing loss as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying patients with presbycusis and implementing communication strategies, such as facing the person, speaking clearly in a lower tone, and reducing background noise.
Untreated hearing loss in older adults is linked to social isolation, depression, and an increased risk of cognitive decline and falls. Early screening and referral to an audiologist are crucial.
Patient education should include information on hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and safety measures, such as using amplified or visual alerting systems for smoke detectors and doorbells.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question stem to identify the key concepts: 'sensorineural hearing loss' and 'associated with age'.
Next, break down the medical terms in the options. The prefix 'presby-' means 'old age'.
Evaluate the suffixes: '-cusis' relates to hearing, and '-opia' relates to vision.
Based on this, 'Presbycusis' directly translates to age-related hearing condition, making it the most likely answer.
Briefly review the other options to confirm they are incorrect. 'Presbyopia' is age-related vision loss. 'Amblyopia' is a developmental vision issue. 'Otosclerosis' causes conductive, not sensorineural, hearing loss.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 930-932

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 1 p. 63-65

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 287-289

Practise the full DSSSB 12 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.