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Hearing loss, a common sensory impairment affecting people of all ages can significantly impact one's quality of life. To effectively diagnose and manage hearing disorders, healthcare professionals rely on a thorough history taking process. This table serves as a guide to the essential questions and their underlying rationales when assessing individuals with hearing loss.
By delving into the onset, progression, associated features, past medical history, medication use, occupation, family history, and the impact of hearing loss on daily life, healthcare providers gain valuable insights into the potential causes, contributing factors, and the overall effect of hearing loss on an individual's well-being.
| Aspect | Question and Explanation |
|---|---|
| Onset and Progression of Symptoms | Question: ♦ How did the hearing loss start? Was it sudden (within 72 hours), rapidly progressive (within 90 days), slowly progressive, or fluctuating? ◘ Understanding the onset and progression can provide clues to the underlying cause. Sudden hearing loss may indicate different etiologies compared to a slow, gradual loss. ◘ Differentials: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), presbycusis, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). |
| Question: ♦ Is the hearing loss in one ear or both? ◘ Differentiating between unilateral and bilateral hearing loss helps in narrowing down potential causes. ◘ Unilateral SSNHL, bilateral... |
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