This document provides guidance on examining the head. It outlines the components of a head exam using the acronym HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat). The head should be rounded and symmetrical with normal size, shape and movement. Abnormalities may indicate conditions like acromegaly, microcephaly, or hydrocephalus. The skull should feel smooth with no irregularities on palpation. Jaw movement should be regular without cracking. The document provides examples of abnormalities to assess for and their potential causes.

1. HEALTH ASSESSMENT
THE HEAD EXAMINATION
PREPARED BY:
USHA RANI KANDULA,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF ADULT HEALTH NURSING,
ARSI UNIVERSITY, ASELLA, ETHIOPIA,
EAST AFRICA.

2. THE HEAD EXAMINATION
Assessment of the head is often referred to by the acronym
HEENT:
Head,
Eyes,
Ears,
Nose,
And throat.

3. The assessment techniques—
inspection,
palpation,
percussion, and auscultation—in the HEENT
exam.

4. THE SKULL AND FACE
Taking individual variation into account, on inspection the
skull should be
Rounded
 face symmetrical in appearance
 Movement.
Inspect head size; if it seems unusual, measure it.

5. ACROMEGALY
-A large head in an adolescent or adult may be associated
with acromegaly, a disorder associated with excess growth
hormone.
Head size is familial, as well.

6. MICROCEPHALY
Microcephaly,
An abnormally small head size,
 Is seen in clients with certain types of mental
retardation.

7. ASYMMETRY OF HEAD
Asymmetry may be the result of
Trauma,
Surgery,
Neuromuscular disorder,
Paralysis, or
Congenital deformity.

8. INFANTS ABNORMAL HEAD
-In infants, abnormal shape or flattening of the skull may
result from trauma during a vaginal birth or placing the
baby in the same position for several hours every day.

9. HYDROCEPHALUS
-In infants and children, a head that is growing
disproportionally faster than the body may be a
sign of hydrocephalus (an accumulation of
excessive cerebrospinal fluid).

10. -Facial appearance that is inconsistent with gender, age, or
racial/ethnic group may indicate an inherited or chronic
disorder, such as
1. Graves’ disease,
2. hypothyroidism with myxedema,
3. or Cushing’ syndrome.

11. PALPATION OF THE SKULL
-It should be smooth to palpation, with no unusual
contours or bulges.
Contour abnormalities,
bulging, or tenderness may be a result of
Trauma,
Congenital anomalies,
Or surgery.

12. TMJ
(TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT) SYNDROME.
-Irregular jaw movement or cracking of the jaw may
indicate TMJ.
(temporomandibular joint) syndrome.

13. THANKING YOU