Week # 4

This week in clinic I saw a 5-year-old male who was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder and although was probably present at birth, this client was just diagnosed at the age of 4. Some characteristics of Angelman syndrome are inappropriate laughter, communication deficits, and neurological disorders.

This client came to us for a hearing evaluation as part of an overal AAC evaluation. Speech Awareness Thresholds (SAT) in the soundfiled were found to be withing the normal limits. Noise makers ranging from a high pitched bell and squeeker toy to a low pitched drum were used and responses were found to be 5 dB. Otoscopy revealed clear canals and the tympaic membrane was visible and appeared to be intact bilaterally. Tympanograms revealed normal, Type A tympanograms bilaterally. Overall, ear specific information could not be obtained, but hearing appeared to be within the normal limits at least in the better ear.

This article assess the preferences of of individuals with Angelmans syndrome using a modified version of the Choice Assessment Scale. The scale was reported from 105 parents or caregivers of individials with Angelmans syndrome. The fvie categories in the modified version of the scale were Edibles, Tangibles, Activities, Sensory, and Escape/Avoidance. Twelve items related to water were added to the scale. Results were that Angleman syndrome was indeed characterized by a strong interest in water related items. Activity and sensory items were preferred over food, drinks, or tangibles. High mean scores were found for items including taking a bath, riding a bus, swimming, and interaction with staff and receiving praise.

Check it out :)
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=10&hid=114&sid=d3e97f35-fad5-4673-b048-1923b39bb995%40sessionmgr102

Week # 3

This week in clinic I fit an adult male with a BTE Wide. He had been to our clinic and had his hearing tested ~3 years earlier and amplification was dicussed at that time, but no decission was made. Earlier this semester he came back for another heaving evaluation and amplificaton was again discussed. At this time, he decided to purcahse a hearing aid. He hunts and one of his main complaints was that he cannot hearing the animales while hunting (he couldn't tell which direction the noise from the animals were coming from) He also mentioned trouble hearing in noise and understanding normal conversation. He wanted to wear his hearing aids while hunting and was advised NOT to do so. The hearing in his right ear was within normaly limits, therefore only one hearing aid for his left ear was recommended.

During the hearing aid orientation, the hearing aid was programmed using the HighPro box and the Widex program in Noah. The pateint was also instructed on the use and care of his new hearing aid and how to change the battery. He practiced putting the hearing aid on and taking it off. He also wore glasses and was advised to be careful when removing the glasses so he didn't send his hearing aid flying off. Again, it was recommended to NOT wear the hearing aid while hunting. Another option was mentioned to the client that he could purchase from Cabelas.

This article looked at different adults and compared their social and occupational activies and the amount of hearing loss they had. The aim was to estimate the magnitude of hearing loss compared to sex, age, and activities. Puretone audiometry was done as well as a questionnare asking about noise exposure. For men, reported occupation noise exposure had been going on for years, as well as farming, forestry, and fishing. Women reported more houseword activities and less hearing loss. The relationship between age and hearnig loss was linear.

We see so many clients with noise induced hearing loss and I thought this compared a lot of different variable such as age, genger, work, leisure activities, etc. Check it out :)

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=18&hid=108&sid=0ad66298-30dd-4e9e-acb8-ddb5fd4fa21e%40sessionmgr102

Week # 2

This week in clinic I saw a young adult who came in for an annual hearing evaluation as part of the WVU Hearing Conservation Program. The patient informed me that he had a mastioodectomy at the age of 6. He wore an in-he-ear hearing aid in the right ear. He also mentioned that he visited his primary care physician about twice a year for check-ups and to remove debris from the middle ear space.

Immittance testing revealed a large canal volumne in the right ear which is to be expected. The left ear resulted in a normal, Type A tympanogram. Next, puretone audiometry was performed. His audiogram results were hearing withing the normal limits for the left ear. The right ear had hearing within the normal limits up to ~2000 Hz, then a sharp drop to a moderate hearing loss at 6000 Hz, and then rising again to normal at 8000 Hz. This unilateral hearing loss would have raised a red flag if the mastoidectomy had not been discussed.

This article discussing hearing loss after middle ear recontruction. The research took place over a 9 yar period of 118 ears. The average preoperative and postoperative PTA were 61.3 dB and 49.5 dB. Some ears showed no change, and others showed a deterioration in hearing loss. If a raidcal mastiodectomy was performed (the removel of all ossicles), severe hearing loss resulted.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=108&sid=14480891-dba2-41fb-90a8-4dea5533e3aa%40sessionmgr106

Week #1

This week in clinic I saw a middle-age man who had previously been to our hearing clinic a few years ago for a hearing evaluation. His audiogram results showed a mild loss in his left ear. Approproate amplification was discussed with him, but he was not ready at the this time and said he would return. He came in today ready to make a decision about amplification.

His main complaints where understnading speech in noise (restaurants, etc) and localizing sounds of the animals while he was hunting. Both of these issues were addressed and he was informed that even normal listeners have trouble in noise and that he should not wear his haring aids while huntig. A ear muff amplifier was looked into from Cabbella's that had a limit where the amplifier will cut off if the noise gets too loud (ex. when shooting the gun).

Another hearing evaluation was done and the same results were found. He had a mild, sensorineural loss in his left ear. An open-fit BTE Widex Flash was order for this patient. He was excited about how small they were and picked a color to match his hair. He was shown a similiar model to see the appromximate size and shape (the Oticon Delta).

This article has to due with hearing loss caused by noise, ear infections, and head injuries. I thought it was good because it also utilizes a questainnaire which we have been talking about in Aural rehab. It has some good charts and graphs that also separate men from women and separate by age. Most of the hearing loss was in relation to noise exposure and the effects of ear infections seemed to effect all frequencies. Check it out :)

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=12&hid=106&sid=73917234-4af1-486a-93b4-676f4e27b37f%40sessionmgr106