Question 1

A 75-year-old patient reports having difficulty hearing in crowds but can hear just fine at home with his wife.What hearing disorder should the nurse suspect?

Accepted Answer

Difficulty hearing in crowds but hearing well in quiet environments is a common symptom of presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss. Otitis media involves inflammation of the middle ear and can cause ear pain and fever. Ototoxicity is hearing loss caused by exposure to certain medications or chemicals, and central deafness is caused by damage to the nerves or brain pathways that process sound.

Question 2

A 75-year-old patient reports to a nurse that although she has cleaned her ears with cotton-tipped applicators for weeks, she still cannot hear her television unless the volume is loud, and she misses a great deal of conversations.What should the nurse anticipate when examining her ears?

Accepted Answer

The use of cotton-tipped applicators often leads to impaction of cerumen (earwax) in the ear canal, which can cause hearing difficulties. The patient's symptoms suggest that the impacted cerumen is obstructing the ear canal, rather than an infection or other condition.

Question 3

______ is the creation of a small opening in the tympanic membrane to reduce pressure and allow fluid to drain.

Accepted Answer

Myringotomy

Question 4

What should a nurse include when educating a patient with Ménière disease?

Accepted Answer

Ménière disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing. Education for patients with Ménière disease should include information on how to manage symptoms during an attack, including decreasing sodium intake and taking diuretic medication. Vestibular rehabilitation can also be helpful in managing symptoms. It is important for the patient to understand that there is no cure for Ménière disease, but symptom management can lead to improved quality of life.

Question 5

During an intake physical examination, a patient reports that he has been taking 10 aspirin tablets a day for his arthritis.What question should the nurse ask based on this information?

Accepted Answer

Taking large doses of aspirin can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The nurse should ask if the patient has noticed any ringing in his ears. The other options are not related to aspirin use.

Question 6

What information should a nurse stress when teaching a patient with Ménière disease about managing the disorder?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding the use of alcohol and tobacco is crucial in managing Ménière's disease because these substances can exacerbate symptoms by affecting inner ear fluid balance.

Question 7

______ are often formed when excess cells accumulate in a cyst or sac formed near the tympanic membrane.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ are often formed when excess cells...

Question 8

A 94-year-old patient is receiving gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin)in a continuous intravenous (IV)infusion.The nurse adds to the nursing care plan the patient problem "Potential injury." What nursing action should be implemented?

Accepted Answer

Gentamicin sulfate can cause nephrotoxicity, leading to altered urinary output. Measuring intake and output is essential to monitor kidney function and prevent potential injury from impaired renal function.

Question 9

Which patient problem should take priority in planning care for a patient with Ménière disease?

Accepted Answer

The priority patient problem for a patient with Ménière disease is potential injury. The hallmark symptoms of this disease are vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss, which can cause falls and accidents, potentially resulting in injury to the patient. Therefore, safety measures such as bedrails, non-slip mats, and fall risk assessments should be included in the care plan. While socialization, fluid volume deficit, and inadequate nutrition may also be concerns for some patients with Ménière disease, these problems are secondary to the priority of preventing potential injury.

Question 10

A young woman being admitted to the clinic service states that all the members of her family have been hard of hearing.She says her hearing loss became more pronounced when she was pregnant.What term explains this type of hearing loss?

Accepted Answer

The history of a family with a hearing loss, along with worsening during pregnancy, suggests otosclerosis, which is a genetic condition that causes abnormal growth of bone in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. Ototoxicity refers to hearing loss caused by exposure to certain medications, chemicals, or toxins. Otalgia is ear pain, and otitis media is a middle ear infection.

Question 11

A patient comes to the primary care clinic complaining of a head cold and ear pain with drainage.What should the nurse suspect this patient is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of a head cold and ear pain with drainage are indicative of acute otitis media, which is an infection in the middle ear. Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal and would present with pain, redness, and swelling of the ear canal. Hearing loss may occur with acute otitis media, but it is not the primary symptom. Mastoiditis is a complication of acute otitis media, which occurs when the infection spreads to the mastoid bone.

Quiz 60: Ear and Hearing Disorders