Health assessment of the older adult

1. Ears:
1. Changes in cochlea-decrease in average pitch of sound.
2. Hearing loss-greater in left ear than right; greater in higher frequencies than in lower.
3. Tympanic membrane-atrophied, thickened-hearing loss.
4. Presbycusis-progressive loss of hearing in old age.
2. Mouth:
1. Dental caries.
2. Poor-fitting dentures.
3. Cancer of the mouth-increased risk.
4. Decrease in taste buds-inability to taste sweet/salty foods.
5. Olfactory bulb atrophies decreased ability to smell.