![]() ![]() Occasionally, one can get a mixed hearing loss, which is a combination of the two types of hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is due to problems with the sound-conducting system, while sensorineural hearing loss is due to problems with the sound-transducing system, the auditory nerve, or its central pathways. The Weber test, along with its paired Rinne test, is commonly used to distinguish the site and likely cause of hearing loss. Hearing loss may occur due to interruption at any point along these pathways. However, sound can also be transmitted via bone conduction, where vibrations are transmitted via the skull and delivered directly to the cochlea, buried within the temporal bone. The cochlea plays a vital role in transducing these vibrations into nerve impulses via the auditory nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve), which is then delivered along the central pathways to the auditory cortex, where it is processed and perceived as sound. The sound vibrations are then transmitted through the middle ear via the ossicular chain before reaching the cochlea. The purpose of the outer ear is to direct sounds onto the tympanic membrane. The inner ear: Cochlea (organ of hearing), vestibular labyrinth (organ of balance) Clinical and animal studies have shown that cochlea is stimulated by bone conduction mainly through two routes: The mechanism underlying sound lateralization of the Weber test has been intriguing to health professionals for many decades. In conductive hearing loss, the sound should lateralize to the affected side however, in patients with sensorineural hearing loss, the sound lateralizes to the contralateral side. The Weber test is often combined with the Rinne test to detect the location and nature of the hearing loss. The inner ear mediates sensorineural hearing. The outer and middle ear mediate conductive hearing. The test can detect unilateral conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The Weber test is a useful, quick, and simple screening test for evaluating hearing loss. The Weber test has been mainly used to establish a diagnosis in patients with unilateral hearing loss to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Ask your primary care provider for a diabetic foot exam at your next visit.Tuning fork tests have been the mainstay of otologic examination for more than a century. ![]() To avoid foot complications related to diabetes, it is recommended to maintain a controlled blood sugar, quit smoking, avoid walking barefoot, wash and check your feet daily, and report any changes to your health care provider. Studies have shown that the monofilament exam can detect peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes. A tuning fork is used to determine if a patient can sense vibration in the foot and toes. An exam can reveal abnormalities and allow a treatment plan to be developed.Ī monofilament is a very thin, flexible thread that is used to determine if a patient can sense pressure in different areas of the foot. Patients should mention any problems they have noticed with their feet. Approximately 73,000 Americans with diabetes required an amputation in 2013 related to diabetic complications.Īsking your health care provider to complete a yearly foot exam is vital in detecting foot complication such as poor circulation, nerve damage skin changes, and deformities. Diabetic foot complications can be costly, with the average amputation costing over $70,000. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total economic cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2012 was approximately $245 billion. Every year, 1.4 million Americans are newly diagnosed with diabetes. By: Stephanie Thompson, MNSc, APRN, FNP-BCīaptist Health Family Clinic-Heber Springs East
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |