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7: The Aging Sensory System

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DOI:

10.1891/9780826194053.0007

Abstract

This chapter presents five case studies on gustatory and olfactory disturbance, hearing loss, somatosensory disturbance, macular degeneration (MD) and visual alterations. Smell and taste disorders are prevalent, whereas twenty-four and a half percent of Americans 55 years old or older have a problem with their sense of smell. The nurse needs to do some screening tests to detect any signs or symptoms of hearing loss. CT scan and MRI tests show only age-related changes. Seroquel is also recommended for those with Parkinson’s disease. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless disease whereby the macula gradually breaks down due to the development of drusen: fatty, yellow, and metabolic waste products, which accumulate beneath the retina. The progress is slow and results in mild to moderate loss of sight, which usually leaves reading vision intact. Loss of central vision occurs with continued degeneration.