University of the Philippines Manila

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Main Campus, Palo, Leyte

1. Reading this article, what are the sensory specific impairment common in older
patients? Explain the impairment and how it affects the patient.
 DECLINE IN VISUAL ACUITY:
 Difficulty Reading and Performing Close-Up Tasks: One of the most noticeable
effects of declining visual acuity is the difficulty in reading small print and
performing tasks that require close-up vision. This can include reading books,
newspapers, labels, and using digital devices like smartphones or tablets.
 Need for Corrective Lenses: As visual acuity declines, older individuals often
require corrective lenses, such as reading glasses, bifocals, or multifocal lenses, to
compensate for difficulty focusing on near objects. Prescription eyeglasses or contact
lenses become essential for maintaining clear vision.
 Increased Risk of Accidents: Poor visual acuity can increase the risk of accidents,
especially in situations where precise vision is crucial, such as driving. Difficulty in
reading road signs, recognizing pedestrians, or assessing distances can pose safety
hazards.
 Reduced Independence: Declining visual acuity can affect an older person's
independence. They may become more reliant on others for tasks like reading mail,
managing medications, or grocery shopping.
 Impact on Hobbies and Leisure Activities: Activities that older individuals once
enjoyed, like crafting, painting, or playing musical instruments, may become more
challenging as visual acuity declines. This can lead to a loss of interest in hobbies
and leisure pursuits.
 Reduced Quality of Life: Poor visual acuity can lead to frustration, discomfort, and
a reduced overall quality of life. It may limit the ability to engage in social activities,
such as watching TV or recognizing faces in a crowd.

 HEARING
 Communication Difficulties: Hearing loss can make it challenging to engage in
conversations with family, friends, and even healthcare professionals. This can lead
to misunderstandings, frustration, and isolation.
 Social Isolation: As hearing declines, older individuals may withdraw from social
activities and gatherings because they find it difficult to participate in conversations.
This can result in social isolation, which can have negative effects on mental health.
 Impact on Relationships: Hearing loss can strain relationships, particularly with
family members or partners who may become frustrated with the need to repeat
themselves or adapt to the hearing-impaired individual's needs.
 CAPABILITY TO UNDERSTAND SPEECH IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT,
SLOWED CENTRAL PROCESSING OF ACOUSTIC STIMULI, AND
IMPAIRED SOUND LOCALIZATION.
 Understanding Speech in a Noisy Environment:
 Older adults often have trouble in understanding speech in noisy environments, such
as crowded restaurants or social gatherings. This is known as the "cocktail party
effect."
 Challenges in filtering out background noise can lead to misunderstandings and the
need for frequent repetition during conversations.
 This difficulty in noisy environments can result in social isolation, as older
individuals may avoid social situations to reduce frustration.
 Slowed Central Processing of Acoustic Stimuli:
 Age-related changes in central auditory processing can result in slower processing of
auditory information.
 This slowdown can impact an older person's ability to process and respond to speech
or environmental sounds quickly.
 It may lead to a slower reaction time to auditory cues, which can be problematic in
safety-related situations, such as crossing streets or responding to alarms.
 Impaired Sound Localization:
 Sound localization refers to the ability to identify the direction from which a sound is
coming. Age-related changes can impair this ability.
 Older individuals may have difficulty locating the source of a sound, which can have
safety implications (e.g., not being able to identify the direction of a car horn while
crossing a street).
 Impaired sound localization can also affect the enjoyment of spatial aspects of music
and entertainment.

 DEFICITS IN SMELL AND TASTE

 Diet and Nutrition
 Smell and taste play a crucial role in appetite and food enjoyment. Older adults with
diminished or altered senses of smell and taste may experience reduced appetite and,
as a result, may not consume a balanced diet.
 This can lead to inadequate intake of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals,
potentially contributing to malnutrition and a weakened immune system.
 Weight Loss and Malnutrition
 Decreased enjoyment of food and reduced appetite can lead to unintentional weight
loss and malnutrition, which are particularly concerning for older individuals who
may already be at risk for these issues.
 Malnutrition can exacerbate existing health problems and contribute to frailty and a
decreased ability to recover from illnesses.
 Decreased Quality of Life
 Enjoyment of food and the sensory aspects of eating are essential for an individual's
overall quality of life. Diminished senses of smell and taste can lead to reduced
enjoyment of meals, social gatherings, and celebrations.
2. Discuss the appropriate approach described by the author about evaluating sensory
dysfunction.
 In such an investigation, the approach typically involves a comprehensive evaluation
of sensory function in older adults. This approach encompasses objective sensory
threshold measurements and subjective self-reported assessments. Objective
assessments employ specialized tools and techniques to quantify sensory thresholds
for each of the five senses—vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. These
measurements provide quantitative data about the sensitivity of each sensory system,
offering insights into any sensory impairments or changes that may be present. In
parallel, researchers or clinicians administer subjective self-reported assessments.
These assessments often take the form of questionnaires or interviews in which
individuals describe their perception of sensory changes and their impact on daily
life. Participants may provide ratings of the quality of their sensory experiences,
report on specific challenges they encounter, and explain how sensory dysfunction
affects their overall well-being. These subjective assessments shed light on the
perceived quality of life and functionality related to sensory deficits. The appropriate
approach described by the author involves a thorough evaluation of sensory
dysfunction in older individuals that combines both objective and subjective
assessments. This comprehensive assessment approach not only aids in
understanding the extent and impact of sensory deficits but also informs the
development of interventions and policies to enhance the well-being and quality of
life for older adults experiencing sensory-specific impairment.
3. What were the limitations encountered by the author in the course of management of
patients who have sensory dysfunction?
1. Sample size may be biased towards people who were more interested in olfaction, as
we advertised it from the Smell and Taste Clinic. This limits the generalizability of
our findings as responses may differ from the broader population. Second, these data
are cross-sectional and therefore do not support any causal conclusions.
2. Longitudinal studies are therefore mandatory to assess the trends of sensory loss for
each modality and the interactions among them in relation to different clinical and
demographic parameters.
3. Assessment of only one test for each modality. This was done in order to keep the
session relatively short; however, a more fine-grained and comprehensive
examination of each modality may reveal different results. Especially interesting in
this respect would be the test of daily life functioning for each sense, such as speech
perception for audition.
4. Failure in demonstrating a common cause could also be rooted in the central
processing of sensory stimuli that is much dependent on experiences, training,
cognition, and other factors and particularly able to compensate for peripheral
changes.
4. As a student nurse, how can you best prepare yourself in handling geriatric
patients with sensory difficulty. Please be specific.
 I should learn about the common sensory changes associated with aging, such as
vision and hearing loss, changes in taste and smell perception, and decreased tactile
sensitivity. Understand the impact of these changes on older adults' daily lives,
emotional well-being, and overall health.
 Develop strong communication skills. Learning to communicate effectively with
older patients who may have hearing or vision impairments is crucial. Practice clear
and patient-centered communication, using simple language and non-verbal cues to
enhance understanding. Actively listen to your patients to address their unique needs.
 Conduct comprehensive assessments that specifically target sensory function.
Develop the ability to perform vision, hearing, and sensory assessments, and
document your findings accurately. Identifying the degree and nature of sensory
impairment will help you tailor your care plans accordingly.
 Seek guidance and supervision when needed. Don't hesitate to consult with
experienced nurses, clinical instructors, or specialists when facing complex cases or
unfamiliar challenges in caring for geriatric patients with sensory difficulties.