Deck 10: Assessing the Ears

Question 1

Routine health assessment is dependent on a person's ability to hear the health interview questions. During the first encounter the nurse should note whether ____________________ is intact while asking questions.

A) Conversational hearing
B) Conductive hearing
C) Sensorineural hearing
D) The cranial nerve

Answer 1

Conversational hearing

Question 2

The nurse asks the patient if he or she has been exposed to loud noises. Why is this question important?

A) Hearing loss may be inherited or could be caused by ototoxic drugs.
B) Hearing loss can have an economic impact on everyday health.
C) Prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerves.
D) Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause tinnitus.

Answer 2

Prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerves.

Question 3

On assessment of a 56-year-old man the nurse discovers he is complaining of "ringing in the ears." The nurse recalls that the medical term for this is:

A) Presbycusis.
B) Vertigo.
C) Tinnitus.
D) Tophi.

Answer 3

Tinnitus.

Question 4

The nurse has finished her focused health history and is preparing to do an assessment of the ears. Which position should the patient be placed in?

A) Supine
B) Prone
C) Semi-Fowler's
D) Comfortable sitting position

Question 5

What is the nurse assessing for in the photo?

A) Tenderness
B) Hearing loss
C) Visual deformities
D) Color

Question 6

You are assessing an ear and see this deviation. What is the name of the assessment finding shown in the photo?

A) Cyst
B) Darwin tubercle
C) Tophi
D) Tragus

Question 7

This part of the ear is responsible for transmitting sound waves through the auditory nerve (cranial nerve VIII).

A) Inner
B) Middle
C) Auricle
D) Ear canal

Question 8

After inspecting the ears of a 76-year-old male the nurse documents: "Patient presents with abnormally large ears." The nurse recalls that the medical term for this is:

A) Vertigo.
B) Cauliflower ear.
C) Microtia.
D) Macrotia.

Question 9

In performing the Weber test to assess for sensorineural hearing loss, where is the tuning fork placed on the patient?

A) Place the base of the tuning fork on the midline of the top of the patient's head.
B) Place the tuning fork in front of the ear on the mastoid bone.
C) Place the tines of the tuning fork perpendicular to the patient's ear canal.
D) Place the tines of the tuning fork on the midline of the top of the patient's head.

Question 10

The nurse has documented in the chart: "Patient exhibits a cauliflower ear." What is a cauliflower ear?

A) A blood clot that forms under the skin causing damage to the cartilage.
B) A congenital deformity that causes an incompletely formed ear.
C) Abnormally large ears that are greater than 4 cm in height in adults.
D) A hard whitish or cream-colored deposit of uric acid crystals.

Question 11

A 58-year-old male has come in for a routine visit at the physician's office. During the health history he states, "I have been having some hearing loss lately. My wife thinks I am ignoring her, but I just do not hear her. The doctor says I have cerumen in my ears." This type of hearing loss is called:

A) Conductive hearing loss.
B) Sensorineural hearing loss.
C) Mixed hearing loss.
D) Complete hearing loss.

Question 12

An 88-year-old female has come in for her annual physical visit. During the review of systems she states that your voice sounds "muffled and unclear." This type of hearing loss is called:

A) Conductive hearing loss.
B) Sensorineural hearing loss.
C) Hearing loss related to aging.
D) Complete hearing loss.

Question 13

Which of the following two tests should be performed to correctly assess sensorineural hearing loss?

A) Weber and Whisper tests
B) Weber and Rinne tests
C) Rinne and Whisper tests
D) Audiogram and Weber tests

Question 14

You are assessing for unilateral hearing loss and functioning of the cochlear nerve. Identify the assessment technique.

A) Weber test
B) Rinne test
C) Whisper test
D) Audiogram

Question 15

You are performing a hearing assessment. You place the tuning fork on the mastoid bone and then place the tines perpendicular to the ears. What is the name of this hearing assessment?

A) Weber test
B) Rinne test
C) Whisper test
D) Audiogram

Question 16

Which of the following findings would indicate a negative Rinne test?

A) Bone conduction is heard longer than air conduction.
B) Air conduction is heard longer than bone conduction.
C) Air and bone conduction are heard at the same length of time.
D) Only air conduction is heard.

Question 17

The nurse has completed her inspection and palpation assessment of the ear. He is now going to use the otoscope. What is the purpose of assessing an ear using an otoscope?

A) To inspect the auricle for presence of water
B) To inspect the external auditory canal, middle ear, and eardrum
C) To assure you can see the light in the inferior quadrant at the 7 o'clock location in the left ear
D) To practice the use of the otoscope, as nurses do not regularly use an otoscope

Question 18

The nurse is using an otoscope to assess the inner right ear and notes an excessive amount of a dark brown substance in the external ear canal. What would the nurse document in the electronic health record?

A) Right ear: excess cerumen present
B) Right ear: signs of otitis media present
C) Right ear: no abnormalities noted
D) Right ear: effusion present

Question 19

Identify the ear condition: inflammation of the outer ear, yellow discharge in the external ear canal, and ear pain.

A) Cerumen
B) Otitis externa
C) Otitis media
D) Normal findings

Question 20

One of the most common complaints for which individuals seek medical care for their ears is:

A) Hearing loss.
B) Tinnitus.
C) Vertigo.
D) Otalgia.

Question 21

You are performing an inner ear assessment. What is your assessment finding based on the photo above?

A) Normal finding
B) Otitis media
C) Ruptured tympanic membrane
D) Cerumen buildup

Question 22

The patient comes to urgent care complaining of ear pain. You assess the ear using an otoscope. What is your assessment finding?

A) Otitis media
B) Normal finding
C) Ruptured tympanic membrane
D) Cerumen

Question 23

You note that while you are interviewing the patient he turns his right ear toward you. Which of the following questions are the BEST questions to ask about the patient's ability to hear? Select all that apply.

A) "Do you have difficulty hearing words when an individual is talking?"
B) "Do you have hearing loss? When did it start?"
C) "Do you have presbycusis?"
D) "Do you have difficulty watching television?"
E) "Do you yell a lot?"

Question 24

During the palpation assessment of the ear, which structures are gently palpated in each ear? Select all that apply.

A) Tragus
B) Earlobes
C) Auricles
D) Mastoid process
E) Eardrum
F) Ossicles

Question 25

You are inspecting the ears of a 32-year-old male who is complaining of right ear tenderness and swelling. Which of the following would the nurse document as normal findings? Select all that apply.

A) Firm consistency
B) Color darker than facial skin
C) Equal size and symmetrical
D) Tender on palpation
E) Angle of attachment is greater than 10 degrees

Question 26

You are assessing the patient's hearing. Place the following steps in order (1-6) to conduct the sequence of the Whispered Voice test. (Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence. Do not use punctuation or spaces. Example: 1234.)
____1. Document your findings.
____2. Ask the individual to cover the left ear that you are not testing.
____3. Whisper three random words, letters, or numbers toward the right ear.
____4. Repeat on the opposite side.
____5. Have the individual repeat what you whispered.
____6. Stand behind the person to his or her right side about 2 feet away.