A patient with a sore throat and head cold is complaining of "trouble with hearing." The nurse should conduct additional assessment for which most likely condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A middle ear infection, also known as otitis media, can cause fluid buildup in the ear that can lead to temporary hearing loss. The symptoms of a sore throat and head cold are also common with this condition. Swimmer's ear (A) typically presents as pain and itching in the ear canal without hearing loss. Otosclerosis (C) is a condition that affects the movement of the middle ear bones and generally causes gradual hearing loss, not sudden onset. An inner ear infection (D) can cause hearing loss, but it is typically accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo.

A Patient with a Sore Throat and Head Cold Is