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The Effects of Sensory Deficits in the Aging Adult

Kaitlyn Viglio

Youngstown State University

NURS 3746 - Geriatric Health

Dr. Amy Weaver

November 14, 2016

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We all have five senses that enable us to receive and perceive information in many

different ways. Our 5 senses include sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch; in addition, we have

sensory organs that allow us to receive outside stimulation and data. These senses allow us to

communicate, maintain equilibrium, enhance nutrition, and protect the body from danger. In this

paper, we will discuss normal and abnormal changes that can be experienced with each sense in

the older adult, and also the danger it presents to the individual.

The sensory organs in our body include the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and the skin. These

sensory organs are activated by small parts of our nervous system called neurons. According to

a section in “eSchooltoday” (2008), “neurons are very tiny units in our body that process data

(electrochemical signals) to and from the brain” (para 4) to elicit a response in the body. Each

sensory organ has their own sensory neurons that process their specific external impulses

differently. Now, we will discuss each sense separately and how it is changed during the aging

process of adults.

The first sense to be discussed is sight, or ophthalmoception, and the sensory organ that

corresponds with this sense are the eyes. The eye is compounded of many different parts that

allow the eye to perceive color, movement, depth, shapes, and movement of objects that are in a

direct line of vision. Now to talk about some of the problems that can arise in older adults with

their eye sight.

One of the most common problems in older adults and their sense of sight is something

called “Presbyopia”, and this is simply the inability to see small print and objects that are close

up very well. This is a normal part of aging, and it usually begins to occur when adults turn

about 40 years old. This problem not difficult to treat, and it is done by the patient using reading

glasses, which can simply be bought at a drug store, or with contact lenses. A more serious
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vision problem that is less common then presbyopia, is glaucoma. This is caused by an increase

in intraocular pressure, or pressure inside of the eye itself. If this isn’t caught early enough, it

can lead to permanent vision loss and blindness. Another serious vision problem that often

occurs in older adults is macular degeneration. This is the leading cause of vision loss in people

over the age of 60. It is caused when the central part of the retina, which is the nerve tissue that

senses light, deteriorates. It almost never causes blindness, but it can cause very significant

visual problems.

There are a variety of less serious, more acute eye problems that can occur in older

adults; however, it is important to discuss the safety concerns to have with older adults who have

vision changes. Siewe et al (2002) states that “while all of the senses are important to good

health and well-being, vision is one of the most” (para 3). Drug-related errors can occur due to

the individual not being able to see the labels on medication containers, or not being able to see

phone numbers to call a pharmacist or doctor to ask for assistance. Along with drug-related

problems, an individual who has impaired vision has an increased risk of fall due to not being

able to see objects in front of them that can cause them to trip and possible cause fractures and

injuries that take longer to heal than a younger adult. Falls are also the leading cause of deaths in

individuals over the age of 65. To improve safety in older adults, it is beneficial to keep the

rooms well lit, use pill organizers with time markings in bold fonts to prevent medication

mishaps, and by eliminate clutter and unnecessary furniture to prevent tripping and falls.

The next sense that will be discussed is smell, also known as olfaction; also, the sensory

organ that corresponds with this sense is the nose. In order for a smell to be sensed, there has to

be tiny molecules from the source that travel into the nose through inhaling and sniffing. The

receptors that pick up these scent chemicals are called chemoreceptors. Also, it is believed that a
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large majority of what is perceived as taste is due to smell; therefore, nutrition can be affected by

the sense of smell.

The sense of smell generally declines in adults after they turn 60 years old, this is called

presbyosmia. Smell and taste are very closely related with receptors in the brain; therefore,

many individuals who believe they have an issue with taste sensation are actually experiencing a

problem with their sense of smell. One issue to be aware of in older adults with a decreased

sense of smell is malnutrition. They either can’t smell their foods to stimulate hunger, or they

smell a foul odor which prevents them from wanting to eat. Another big problem with safety in

older adults who have a decreased sense of smell is that they can’t smell smoke or other

dangerous gases in their presence. To detect smoke and carbon monoxide in the home of older

adults, it would be beneficial to add smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home

to alert the individual of these scents they can’t smell.

“eSchooltoday” (2008) explains that “it is believed that over 80% of what we perceive as

taste is actually due to smell,” so we will now discuss the sense of taste, also called gustation

(para 3). The sensory organ that enables us to taste is the tongue. The tongue helps us

distinguish chemicals that make up foods and other substances that we consume through our

mouth. The tongue has a rough texture due to papillae taste buds. There are tens of thousands of

taste buds on our tongue, and each taste bud has about 100 receptor cells on them. The tongue

can detect five chemical stimuli. These include: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and unami (which is

savory flavors). These different stimuli that we can detect on our tongues allow us to distinguish

safe from toxic substances.

Problems with tooth loss and dentures that is common in older adults can interfere with

the sensation of taste and reduction in saliva production. Along with these chewing problems
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associated with age, there is a loss in taste buds. A loss in taste buds can decrease the perception

of taste, which can cause the individual to not enjoy the tastes of food; therefore, malnutrition

and weight loss occurs. Another big problem with not being able to taste what the individual

with a loss in the sense of taste is that the individual might be ingesting something that is spoiled

or poisoned. This can cause further health problems such as food poisoning. The loss of taste,

and also smell, are overlooked by caregivers and the patient themselves. It is not looked at as a

critical part of surviving, and therefore is often left untreated.

The next sense that will be talked about is hearing, also known as audition, is the ability

to perceive sound by detecting mechanical waves, or vibrations, through the sensory organ of the

ears. These vibrations are detected by the ear and moved to the brain through nerve impulses.

“eSchooltoday” (2008) states that “the pinna is like a funnel, which directs sound to the ear canal

and unto the eardrum” (para 3). The sound waves are directed through the ear canal to the

eardrum, which then vibrates according to the waveform. There are three bones in the middle

ear (malleus, incus, and stapes) that assist in the transportation of the vibrations from the

eardrum to the inner ear. When the vibration reaches the inner ear, the cochlea, is the main

organ of mechanical and neural transduction. The sound information form the cochlea travels to

the brain via the cochlear nerve where the sound impulses are interpreted.

There are several types of hearing loss. There is conductive hearing loss, sensorineural

hearing loss, and a mix of the two. Conductive hearing loss is when there is a disruption in the

sound waves traveling through the ear. Causes of conductive hearing loss include fluid build-up

in the middle ear, cerumen buildup, infection or irritation of the outer ear, tumor or mass in the

ear canal, perforated eardrum, or unequal air pressure between the external and middle ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear organs, such as the cochlea or
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cranial nerve VIII. Siewe et al (2002) explains that “the ability to hear clearly declines with age.

Hearing loss often begins at the young age and progresses slowly during the 20s, 30s, and 40s”

(para 18). Sensorineural hearing loss can be accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness, and light-

headedness. To help treat hearing loss in older adults and improve the ability to communicate

with older adults with hearing loss, it is most beneficial to eliminate distractions when trying to

talk to the individual. Turn off TV’s in the room, turn on a light so the individual can see your

face and lips better, and also speak clearly and precisely. Along with non-medical interventions,

the individual can invest in hearing aids or cochlear implants for sensorineural hearing loss.

The last sense to be discussed is the sense of touch, or the somatosensory system, in

which the sensory organ is the skin. The skin helps the human body respond to a variety of

stimuli such as temperature, pain, pressure, shape, texture, contours, and vibration. Over the

years, the sense of touch becomes less sensitive. This causes the skin to become dryer and

thinner, this causes a reduction in the skin’s sensitivity to pressure, vibrations, temperature

differentiation, and blood circulation. This diminished sense of touch can cause an older adult to

suffer from pressure ulcers, heat stroke, burns, and hypothermia. To protect an older adult from

these dangers, one can put a tempering device on water fixtures to prevent scalding of the skin,

wearing shoes to prevent stepping on objects on the floor and not being able to feel the pain

sensation, monitoring skin for any signs of pressure ulcers or injuries.

In conclusion, there are many changes that can occur in older adults with regard to the

five senses. There are measures to take to help prevent or detect these changes early before it

causes further problems to occur. Some of these changes are normal in the aging adult, but some

are abnormal and less common, but it is beneficial to be aware of these changes to prevent

danger in the aging population.

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References

E. (2008). The five human senses and their organs. Retrieved November 10, 2016, from

http://eschooltoday.com/science/the-five-senses/the-five-senses.html

Siewe, Y. J. (2002). Understanding the Effects of Aging on the Sensory System. Oklahoma

Cooperative Extension Service, 2140-2148. Retrieved November 10, 2016.