Question

Lavona Reynolds is 78 years old and has been a cigarette smoker for most of her life. She has tried many times to quit, most recently at age 75, but never can conquer the urge to have a cigarette. She lives with her 85-year-old boyfriend, who also smokes. Lavona has noticed a change in her hearing. Growing up in Illinois, Lavona enjoyed attending indoor concerts with extremely loud rock bands. Her father was a farmer and also had problems with hearing loss.

1. Because her father was affected, what is Lavona's risk of having age-related hearing loss?

2. What is the risk to Lavona's children if she is affected? Could they do anything to reduce their risk?

3. What clinical signs might she be experiencing?

4. What environmental factor(s) might play a role in Lavona's risk of ARHL?

5. If Lavona is diagnosed with ARHL, what factors would you expect to be particularly iimportant in planning her ongoing care?

Answer 1

1.Lavona's risk for getting age related hearing loss is 50 % because her only parent was having ARHL .It is because of the genetic inheritance from the father where there is always the transfer of gene from parents to children

2.If Lavona is affected then the recessive gene from her can pass to her children making them at risk of getting the disease.Some of the way to reduce the risk in children are

• Yearly screening
• Avoiding loud noise,speakers
• Use of ear plugs in excessive no useful area
• If child has any infection ,ear wax ,ear pain ,sore throat with fever to be reported to physician and get treated

3.Some of the clinical signs are

• Will have to hear twice
• Will talk in a loud voice
• Unable to hear word and differentiate s and th sounds
• Leaning towards the individual side who talks
• Ringing in the ear can be usually seen as a sign

4.The environmental factors contributedto ARHL are

• Smoking
• Extreme loud Rick bands