Deck 47: Assessment of Auditory Function

Question 1

The nurse is preparing to use an otoscope to examine an adult patient's external ear structures.What should the nurse do to ensure the ear canal is straight?

A) Pull the pinna down
B) Pull the pinna up and back
C) Hold the otoscope upright
D) Tilt the patient's head toward the nurse

Answer 1

Pull the pinna up and back

Question 2

An older patient has an impaction of cerumen in both ears.What should the nurse explain as the reason for this occurrence?

A) Poor diet
B) Drier cerumen
C) Reduced fluid intake
D) Stiffening of blood vessels

Answer 2

Drier cerumen

Question 3

The school nurse is preparing a poster for students focusing on the structures of the ear.What information should be included about the Eustachian tube?

A) It is the most visible part of the ear
B) It is lined with glands that secrete cerumen
C) It connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx
D) It holds the sensory organs for equilibrium and hearing

Answer 3

It connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx

Question 4

A patient is being evaluated for a hearing disorder.How should the nurse explain the semicircular canals?

A) Contain glands that make cerumen
B) Is the smallest bone in the human body
C) Cartilage containing fluid and hair cells
D) Separates the external from the middle ear

Question 5

A patient is experiencing a new onset of reduced hearing.Which medication should the nurse suspect is causing this patient's disorder?

A) Prilosec
B) Gentamycin
C) Dexamethasone
D) Calcium supplement

Question 6

Which observation made by the nurse indicates that the patient might be experiencing a hearing disorder?

A) Answers most questions incorrectly
B) Sits with the hands folded in the lap
C) Looks at the nurse's face when talking
D) Takes a few extra seconds before responding

Question 7

A middle-aged patient avoids eating out in restaurants because of the inability to hear dining partners talk.What should the nurse realize that this patient is describing?

A) Presbycusis
B) Mixed hearing loss
C) Conductive hearing loss
D) Sensorineural hearing loss

Question 8

A patient is experiencing "fullness" in the ears.Which diagnostic test should be anticipated for this patient?

A) MRI
B) CT scan
C) Tympanometry
D) Electronystagmography

Question 9

During an assessment the nurse determines that a patient is at risk for a perforated eardrum.What information caused the nurse to have this concern?

A) Flushes the ears with warm water
B) Uses a hair pin to remove ear wax
C) Cleanses the outer ear areas with a wash cloth
D) Places cotton balls in the ears before swimming

Question 10

A patient is diagnosed with a bone conduction hearing disorder.Which bones are responsible for transmitting sound for bone conduction?

A) Skull
B) Maxilla
C) Mastoid
D) Mandible

Question 11

A patient is experiencing extreme vertigo.Which part of the ear is malfunctioning?

A) Pinnae
B) Malleus
C) Labyrinth
D) Organs of Corti

Question 12

A patient who swims twice a week has been experiencing frequent ear infections.What should the nurse suggest to this patient?

A) Use waterproof earplugs
B) Place cotton in the ears before swimming
C) Instill castor oil into the ears before swimming
D) Flush the ears with hydrogen peroxide after swimming

Question 13

The mother of an adolescent is frustrated because the teen appears to be "deaf." What observation made by the nurse might suggest a potential risk to hearing for this teen?

A) Use of earbuds
B) Time spent on the computer
C) Number of followers on Twitter
D) Frequency of posting on Facebook

Question 14

During an assessment the nurse becomes concerned that a patient is at risk for a hearing loss.What information caused the nurse to have this concern?

A) Age 35 years
B) Lives with spouse and two children
C) Works for a lawn and garden service
D) Has a ranch-style home in the country

Question 15

The ear-nose-and-throat health-care professional documents that a patient has a stiff tympanic membrane.What should this information indicate to the nurse?

A) Antibiotics should be prescribed
B) Progressive hearing loss will occur
C) Middle ear changes affect the patient's hearing
D) Special care is required to protect the ears when showering

Question 16

A patient is scheduled for an audiometry examination.What should the nurse explain as being the purpose of this test?

A) Determines hearing acuity
B) Measures cranial nerve function
C) Identifies if the middle ear is inflamed
D) Analyzes brain interpretation of sound

Question 17

A patient is directed to schedule an MRI to help diagnose a new onset of unilateral deafness.For which health reason should this diagnostic procedure be delayed?

A) Patient has a pacemaker
B) Patient takes metformin
C) Patient has claustrophobia
D) Patient is allergic to iodine

Question 18

The nurse notices that an older patient takes a few extra seconds to respond to conversation.What should the nurse realize is causing this to occur?

A) Presbycusis
B) Use of NSAIDs for pain
C) Nerve damage from medication
D) Increased auditory reaction time

Question 19

A patient with a hearing disorder just underwent a CT scan with contrast.What should the nurse emphasize to the patient after the test?

A) Increase oral fluids
B) Avoid caffeinated beverages
C) Take nothing by mouth for three hours
D) Avoid over-the-counter analgesics

Question 20

During a hearing assessment the nurse has the patient cover one ear and asks the patient to repeat a few words spoken near the uncovered ear.Which assessment technique is the nurse using?

A) Voice test
B) Watch test
C) Weber test
D) Tympanic test