A patient in her first trimester of pregnancy is diagnosed with rubella. Which of these statements is correct regarding the significance of this in relation to the infant's hearing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If maternal rubella infection occurs during the first trimester, then it can damage the organ of Corti and impair hearing. Maternal rubella can affect the infant's hearing, not the mother's hearing, if it occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Hearing is impaired due to damage to the organ of Corti, not cranial nerve VIII. Rubella does not impair the development of cranial nerve VIII.

A Patient in Her First Trimester of Pregnancy Is Diagnosed