SENSORY PATHO PHYSIO

• Congenital Sensory Disorders

  Eyes - Congenital Cataracts

  Ears - Anotia & Microtia
• Congenital Cataracts - involve a clouding of the lens that is present at birth

  this clouding of the usually clear lens results in hazy vision
• Ears

  Anotia - refers to the absence of the auricle

  Microtia - refers to an underdeveloped, small auricle
• Sensory Conditions Associated with Aging

  Eyes - Presbyopia

  Ears - Presbycusis & Tinnitus
• Eyes

  Presbyopia - a condition of difficulty focusing the eyes

  • intolerance to glare as well as difficulty adapting to darkness and brightness may be experienced, making driving at night difficult
• Ears

  Presbycusis - hearing loss is accelerated in people who were exposed to excessive noise or smoking when they were younger

  
  

  Tinnitus - described as a ringing, buzzing, roaring, or humming sound
• Infectious and Inflammatory Sensory Disorders

  Eyes

  Conjunctivitis - eye, refers to an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the lining of the eyelids and sclera
• Keratitis - refers to an inflammation of the cornea that can be triggered by an infection or trauma
• Infectious and Inflammatory Sensory Disorders

  Ear: Otitis Media

  • describes an infection or inflammation of the middle ear
  • decreases the ability of fluid to drain from the young child’s middle ear adequately
  • can lead to rupture of the tympanic membrane, scar tissue formation, and conductive hearing loss
• Otitis externa - refers to an infection or inflammation of the external ear canal or auricle

  • usually bacterial in origin
  • arises from moisture in the ear that creates an environment for bacterial or fungal growth
• Treatment Strategies for Otitis Externa

  • otologic antibiotic
  • antifungal
  • corticosteroid
  • analgesic agents
• Traumatic Sensory Disorders

  Eyes - Eye trauma

  Ears - Ear trauma
• Traumatic Sensory Disorders

  Eyes: Eye trauma

  • result from numerous types of injuries
  • injuries may result from direct physical trauma or chemical burns
• Traumatic Sensory Disorders

  Ears: Ear trauma

  • result from a variety of injuries to any of the internal or external ear structures
  • injuries may stem from direct physical trauma or exposure to excessively loud noises
• Chronic Sensory Disorders

  Eyes : Glaucoma

  • refers to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage to the optic nerve
  • caused by increased intraocular pressure, but it can also result from decreased blood flow to the optic nerve
  • second leading cause of blindness (after diabetic retinopathy)
• Four types of Glaucoma:

  • Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma
  • Closed-angle (acute) glaucoma
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Secondary glaucoma
• Open-angle (chronic) glaucoma

  • intraocular pressure increases gradually over an extended period
  • this type of glaucoma tends to run in families
• Closed-angle (acute) glaucoma

  • medical emergency,results from a sudden blockage of aqueous humor outflow
  • this blockage can be caused by trauma, sudden pupil dilation, prolonged pupil dilation and emotional stress
• Congenital glaucoma

  • type of glaucoma is present at birth
  • results from abnormal development of outflow channels (trabecular meshwork) of the eye
  • follows an X-linked, recessive hereditary pattern
• Secondary glaucoma

  • result from the use of certain medications, eye diseases, systemic diseases, and trauma
• Cataracts

  • opacity or clouding of the lens
  • occur as a congenital condition or develop later in life
  • proteins in the lens breakdown, making the lens cloudy
• Macular Degeneration

  • refers to a deterioration of the macular area of the retina
  • caused by impaired blood supply to the macula that results in cellular waste accumulation and ischemia
• Dry Macular Degeneration

  • the most common form—occurs when the blood vessels under the macula become thin and brittle
  • Small yellow deposits (drusen) form under the macula
• Wet Macular Degeneration

  • occurs in only approximately 10% of people with macular degeneration
  • brittle vessels break down, and new, abnormal, fragile blood vessels grow under the macula (choroidal neovascularization
• Chronic Sensory Disorders

  Ears: Otosclerosis

  • refers to an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear, usually involving an imbalance in bone formation and resorption
• Meniere’s Disease

  • a disorder of the inner ear that results from endolymph swelling
  • this swelling stretches the membranes and interferes with the hair receptors in the cochlea and vestibule
• Miscellaneous Sensory Organ Conditions

  Eyes: Strabismus

  • is a gaze deviation of one eye
  • eyes do not coordinate to focus on the same object together, resulting in diplopia
  • most often appears at birth
• Amblyopia

  • is the loss of one eye’s ability to see details
  • the most common cause of vision problems in children
  • occurs when the brain and the eyes do not work together properly; that is, the brain favors one eye
• Retinal Detachment

  • an acute condition that occurs when the retina separates from its supporting structures
  • separation can happen spontaneously or because of severe nearsightedness (myoplia), trauma, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, degenerative aging changes, and scar tissue
• Ears

  Tinnitus

  • describes hearing abnormal noises in the ear
  • described as a ringing,buzzing, humming, whistling, roaring, or blowing
• Vertigo

  • refers to an illusion of motion
  • people experiencing vertigo have a sensation that they or the room is spinning or moving
• Peripheral vertigo

  • occurs when there is a problem with the vestibular labyrinth, semicircular canals, or vestibular nerve
• Central vertigo

  • occurs when there is a problem in the brain, particularly in the brain stem or cerebellum