A 36-year-old is admitted to the emergency department at 2:20 a.m. with a severe laceration to her forehead and incoherent speech. Paramedics report that they picked up the client at a local bar, and the bartender onsite said, "She seemed just fine when she came in. She must have had a lot to drink before she came here." Witness reports onsite confirmed that the woman fell off a bar stool and hit her head on the bar rail. Based on the information provided, a blood alcohol test was administered, and her blood alcohol content was 0.01%. The client's weight was recorded at 145 lbs. Incoherent speech is most likely attributed to which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1.This is incorrect. Intoxication from drugs and/or alcohol could cause the instability and lack of balance to fall as well as the incoherent speech; however, the blood alcohol level of 0.01 is very unlikely to cause impairment.
2.This is incorrect. Intoxication and fatigue could cause instability and lack of balance, resulting in a fall, as well as incoherent speech. However, the blood alcohol level of 0.01 is very unlikely to cause impairment, and there is no reason to suspect fatigue, other than the late hour she was picked up by paramedics.
3.This is incorrect. Given the scenario, the information provided does not indicate that any preexisting primary NCD was present.
4.This is correct. The blood alcohol content of 0.01% and reports of the client's behavior prior to the fall indicate a likelihood of cerebral trauma associated with the fall.

A 36-Year-Old Is Admitted to the Emergency Department at 2:20