The purpose of this guide is to address the knowledge areas and skills impacted by hearing loss and to describe assessment procedures to identify the adverse educational effect of hearing loss in these areas. It is not the intent of this guide to include all assessment instruments that could be used to identify the areas of strengths and needs of students with hearing loss. It has been developed to provide a framework for school teams and professionals specializing in the education of students with hearing loss to use when assessing the unique needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. These assessments can be used as part of the evaluation process to determine eligibility, as tools for developing specific goals and objectives, or as a measure of pre- and post-instruction performance. Expected development in the expanded core knowledge and skills is also a significant consideration when determining the impact of the hearing loss on school performance and will therefore be integrated into the assessment process described.
Millions of Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. The Social Security Administration (SSA) operates programs that provide cash disability benefits to people with permanent impairments like hearing loss, if they can show that their impairments meet stringent SSA criteria and their earnings are below an SSA threshold. The National Research Council convened an expert committee at the request of the SSA to study the issues related to disability determination for people with hearing loss. This volume is the product of that study. Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits reviews current knowledge about hearing loss and its measurement and treatment, and provides an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes and criteria. It recommends changes to strengthen the disability determination process and ensure its reliability and fairness. The book addresses criteria for selection of pure tone and speech tests, guidelines for test administration, testing of hearing in noise, special issues related to testing children, and the difficulty of predicting work capacity from clinical hearing test results. It should be useful to audiologists, otolaryngologists, disability advocates, and others who are concerned with people who have hearing loss.
Explores the usage of of probe microphone measurements in hearing instrument fitting. Comprehensive and totally up-to-date, featuring a range of practical information, this text completely covers probe microphone measurements with 300 references.
The loss of hearing - be it gradual or acute, mild or severe, present since birth or acquired in older age - can have significant effects on one's communication abilities, quality of life, social participation, and health. Despite this, many people with hearing loss do not seek or receive hearing health care. The reasons are numerous, complex, and often interconnected. For some, hearing health care is not affordable. For others, the appropriate services are difficult to access, or individuals do not know how or where to access them. Others may not want to deal with the stigma that they and society may associate with needing hearing health care and obtaining that care. Still others do not recognize they need hearing health care, as hearing loss is an invisible health condition that often worsens gradually over time. In the United States, an estimated 30 million individuals (12.7 percent of Americans ages 12 years or older) have hearing loss. Globally, hearing loss has been identified as the fifth leading cause of years lived with disability. Successful hearing health care enables individuals with hearing loss to have the freedom to communicate in their environments in ways that are culturally appropriate and that preserve their dignity and function. Hearing Health Care for Adults focuses on improving the accessibility and affordability of hearing health care for adults of all ages. This study examines the hearing health care system, with a focus on non-surgical technologies and services, and offers recommendations for improving access to, the affordability of, and the quality of hearing health care for adults of all ages.
This full-color quick-reference handbook covers all aspects of the patient history and physical examination to help nurses interpret assessment findings, recognize patient needs, and provide focused care. Information is presented in a succinct, highly bulleted format, with lists, tables, and flowcharts to highlight key facts. Recurring graphic icons include Skill Check (tips for performing physical examination techniques), Culture Cue and Age Alert (specific variations in assessment findings and techniques related to age, culture, or ethnicity), Alert (life- or limb-threatening situations), and Clinical Picture (quick-scan charts visually comparing clusters of abnormal findings and differentiating among possible causes).
“Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified” is an essential guide designed to streamline the learning and application of physical assessments for nurses. Organized according to a 14-point review of systems, this book aligns with the core areas frequently evaluated in patient examinations, making it a valuable educational resource for nursing professionals. Book Description: “Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified” serves as a comprehensive toolkit for both aspiring and experienced nurses, enhancing their capabilities in conducting thorough physical evaluations. This book is meticulously structured to cover all essential aspects of patient assessment through 14 detailed chapters, each dedicated to a specific body system — from general health, skin, and head, to more specialized areas such as the cardiovascular and neurological systems. Starting with the basics, the book introduces the importance of a detailed physical assessment and provides fundamental techniques and tips on how to effectively use this resource. Each chapter dives deep into specific examination procedures, offering step-by-step guides on techniques, from skin inspection and palpation to advanced cardiac and neurological assessments. This approach ensures that nurses can quickly identify and address various health conditions, recognize early signs of disease, and effectively monitor ongoing issues. Highlights include: Detailed chapters on each major body system, providing focused examination techniques and identifying key symptoms and signs. Practical tips on recognizing common disorders and effectively documenting findings. Appendices featuring reference tables for normal versus abnormal findings, quick guides for system assessments, and a comprehensive glossary of terms. “Physical Assessment for Nurses Simplified” is more than just a textbook — it is a practical guide that prepares nurses for real-world medical settings. The book emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to physical examination, equipping nurses with the knowledge to perform confident and accurate assessments. This guide is an indispensable resource for anyone in the nursing field, facilitating continuous learning and skill enhancement necessary for high-quality patient care. Whether you are a nursing student eager to learn the ropes or a seasoned practitioner looking to refresh your physical assessment skills, this book offers the tools you need to succeed in the fast-paced and ever-evolving field of nursing. Importance of a Thorough Physical Assessment A thorough physical assessment is integral to the nursing profession. It allows nurses to gather vital data about a patient’s health, aiding in the early detection of diseases, evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment plans, and making informed decisions about further diagnostic tests. The initial assessments provide a baseline against which future changes in a patient’s condition can be measured. This book underscores the importance of precision and attention to detail in the physical examination process. How to Use This Book This book is structured to facilitate both learning and practical application in clinical settings. Each chapter focuses on a specific system or aspect of the physical assessment, providing detailed explanations of examination techniques, practical tips, and visual aids to enhance understanding. Readers are encouraged to use this book as a reference guide in their daily practice, as well as a tool for continuous learning. Readers will develop the ability to conduct more comprehensive and effective physical assessments and improve their clinical competence and patient outcomes. About the Author Mark Aquino is a registered nurse in California with a Masters of Science in Nursing, Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Masters of Health Administration from West Coast University. He has at worked in various psychiatric and mental health settings working alongside psychiatrists, therapists, and social workers and least 5 years of experience in the front lines as a visiting nurse in home health and hospice care. He is author of OASIS NINJA. A Home Health Nurse’s Guide to Visits, Documentation, and Positive Patient Outcomes. This guide provides nurses with the information they need to provide quality care to their patients in the comfort of their own homes. Learn more at OasisNinja.com.
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. To receive SSDI or SSI disability benefits, an individual must meet the statutory definition of disability, which is "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity [SGA] by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." SSA uses a five-step sequential process to determine whether an adult applicant meets this definition. Functional Assessment for Adults with Disabilities examines ways to collect information about an individual's physical and mental (cognitive and noncognitive) functional abilities relevant to work requirements. This report discusses the types of information that support findings of limitations in functional abilities relevant to work requirements, and provides findings and conclusions regarding the collection of information and assessment of functional abilities relevant to work requirements.
