Otolaryngology Exam (Ear, Nose And Throat)
Questions And 100% Verified Answers With
Rationales Graded A+ Latest
1. Which structure is primarily responsible for transmitting vibrations from the tympanic
membrane to the inner ear?
A. Cochlea
B. Auditory ossicles
C. Eustachian tube
D. Semicircular canals
Correct Answer: B. Auditory ossicles
Rationale: The malleus, incus, and stapes transmit and amplify vibrations from the tympanic
membrane to the oval window of the cochlea. The cochlea converts mechanical vibrations into
neural signals.
2. Which ossicle is directly attached to the tympanic membrane?
A. Incus
B. Stapes
C. Malleus
D. Cochlea
Correct Answer: C. Malleus
Rationale: The handle of the malleus is attached to the tympanic membrane. Vibrations then
pass from the malleus to the incus and finally to the stapes.
3. A patient reports gradual bilateral hearing loss after years of occupational noise exposure.
Which type of hearing loss is most likely?
A. Conductive
B. Sensorineural
C. Functional
D. Central
,Correct Answer: B. Sensorineural
Rationale: Chronic excessive noise exposure can damage cochlear hair cells, producing
permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive loss results from problems involving sound
transmission through the external or middle ear.
4. Which test is commonly used as a bedside assessment of hearing asymmetry and
conductive versus sensorineural loss?
A. Weber test
B. Romberg test
C. Dix-Hallpike test
D. Rinne test only
Correct Answer: A. Weber test
Rationale: The Weber test uses a tuning fork placed at the midline of the skull to assess
lateralization. The Rinne test compares air conduction with bone conduction.
5. In a normal Rinne test, which finding is expected?
A. Bone conduction is greater than air conduction
B. Air conduction is greater than bone conduction
C. Bone and air conduction are absent
D. Air conduction occurs only in one ear
Correct Answer: B. Air conduction is greater than bone conduction
Rationale: Normally, sound is heard longer and louder through air conduction than bone
conduction. This is described as a positive Rinne test.
6. Which condition commonly causes conductive hearing loss?
A. Presbycusis
B. Acoustic neuroma
C. Cerumen impaction
D. Noise-induced cochlear damage
Correct Answer: C. Cerumen impaction
,Rationale: Impacted cerumen blocks transmission of sound through the external auditory canal
and can cause conductive hearing loss. Removing the obstruction often restores hearing.
7. Presbycusis is best described as:
A. Sudden unilateral hearing loss caused by trauma
B. Age-related sensorineural hearing loss
C. Conductive hearing loss caused by cerumen
D. Hearing loss caused by acute otitis externa
Correct Answer: B. Age-related sensorineural hearing loss
Rationale: Presbycusis is progressive sensorineural hearing loss associated with aging. High-
frequency sounds are often affected first.
8. Which symptom is particularly characteristic of Ménière disease?
A. Episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus
B. Bilateral ear drainage without dizziness
C. Severe sore throat with fever
D. Isolated nasal obstruction
Correct Answer: A. Episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus
Rationale: Ménière disease classically involves episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural
hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. The disorder is associated with abnormal inner-ear
fluid regulation.
9. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is most commonly triggered by:
A. Eating salty foods
B. Changes in head position
C. Exposure to loud music
D. Swallowing
Correct Answer: B. Changes in head position
Rationale: BPPV results from displaced otoconia within the semicircular canals. Symptoms are
typically brief episodes of vertigo triggered by movements such as turning in bed or looking
upward.
, 10. Which maneuver is commonly used to diagnose posterior-canal BPPV?
A. Weber maneuver
B. Dix-Hallpike maneuver
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Rinne maneuver
Correct Answer: B. Dix-Hallpike maneuver
Rationale: The Dix-Hallpike maneuver positions the patient's head and body to provoke
characteristic vertigo and nystagmus in posterior-canal BPPV.
11. Which treatment maneuver is commonly used for posterior-canal BPPV?
A. Epley maneuver
B. Heimlich maneuver
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Frenzel maneuver
Correct Answer: A. Epley maneuver
Rationale: The Epley canalith-repositioning maneuver moves displaced otoconia out of the
affected semicircular canal and is commonly used to treat posterior-canal BPPV.
12. Acute otitis media most commonly involves infection or inflammation of the:
A. External auditory canal
B. Middle ear
C. Inner ear
D. Vestibular nerve
Correct Answer: B. Middle ear
Rationale: Acute otitis media affects the middle-ear space behind the tympanic membrane. It
frequently follows an upper respiratory infection.
13. Which finding is most consistent with acute otitis media?
Questions And 100% Verified Answers With
Rationales Graded A+ Latest
1. Which structure is primarily responsible for transmitting vibrations from the tympanic
membrane to the inner ear?
A. Cochlea
B. Auditory ossicles
C. Eustachian tube
D. Semicircular canals
Correct Answer: B. Auditory ossicles
Rationale: The malleus, incus, and stapes transmit and amplify vibrations from the tympanic
membrane to the oval window of the cochlea. The cochlea converts mechanical vibrations into
neural signals.
2. Which ossicle is directly attached to the tympanic membrane?
A. Incus
B. Stapes
C. Malleus
D. Cochlea
Correct Answer: C. Malleus
Rationale: The handle of the malleus is attached to the tympanic membrane. Vibrations then
pass from the malleus to the incus and finally to the stapes.
3. A patient reports gradual bilateral hearing loss after years of occupational noise exposure.
Which type of hearing loss is most likely?
A. Conductive
B. Sensorineural
C. Functional
D. Central
,Correct Answer: B. Sensorineural
Rationale: Chronic excessive noise exposure can damage cochlear hair cells, producing
permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive loss results from problems involving sound
transmission through the external or middle ear.
4. Which test is commonly used as a bedside assessment of hearing asymmetry and
conductive versus sensorineural loss?
A. Weber test
B. Romberg test
C. Dix-Hallpike test
D. Rinne test only
Correct Answer: A. Weber test
Rationale: The Weber test uses a tuning fork placed at the midline of the skull to assess
lateralization. The Rinne test compares air conduction with bone conduction.
5. In a normal Rinne test, which finding is expected?
A. Bone conduction is greater than air conduction
B. Air conduction is greater than bone conduction
C. Bone and air conduction are absent
D. Air conduction occurs only in one ear
Correct Answer: B. Air conduction is greater than bone conduction
Rationale: Normally, sound is heard longer and louder through air conduction than bone
conduction. This is described as a positive Rinne test.
6. Which condition commonly causes conductive hearing loss?
A. Presbycusis
B. Acoustic neuroma
C. Cerumen impaction
D. Noise-induced cochlear damage
Correct Answer: C. Cerumen impaction
,Rationale: Impacted cerumen blocks transmission of sound through the external auditory canal
and can cause conductive hearing loss. Removing the obstruction often restores hearing.
7. Presbycusis is best described as:
A. Sudden unilateral hearing loss caused by trauma
B. Age-related sensorineural hearing loss
C. Conductive hearing loss caused by cerumen
D. Hearing loss caused by acute otitis externa
Correct Answer: B. Age-related sensorineural hearing loss
Rationale: Presbycusis is progressive sensorineural hearing loss associated with aging. High-
frequency sounds are often affected first.
8. Which symptom is particularly characteristic of Ménière disease?
A. Episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus
B. Bilateral ear drainage without dizziness
C. Severe sore throat with fever
D. Isolated nasal obstruction
Correct Answer: A. Episodic vertigo with fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus
Rationale: Ménière disease classically involves episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural
hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. The disorder is associated with abnormal inner-ear
fluid regulation.
9. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is most commonly triggered by:
A. Eating salty foods
B. Changes in head position
C. Exposure to loud music
D. Swallowing
Correct Answer: B. Changes in head position
Rationale: BPPV results from displaced otoconia within the semicircular canals. Symptoms are
typically brief episodes of vertigo triggered by movements such as turning in bed or looking
upward.
, 10. Which maneuver is commonly used to diagnose posterior-canal BPPV?
A. Weber maneuver
B. Dix-Hallpike maneuver
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Rinne maneuver
Correct Answer: B. Dix-Hallpike maneuver
Rationale: The Dix-Hallpike maneuver positions the patient's head and body to provoke
characteristic vertigo and nystagmus in posterior-canal BPPV.
11. Which treatment maneuver is commonly used for posterior-canal BPPV?
A. Epley maneuver
B. Heimlich maneuver
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Frenzel maneuver
Correct Answer: A. Epley maneuver
Rationale: The Epley canalith-repositioning maneuver moves displaced otoconia out of the
affected semicircular canal and is commonly used to treat posterior-canal BPPV.
12. Acute otitis media most commonly involves infection or inflammation of the:
A. External auditory canal
B. Middle ear
C. Inner ear
D. Vestibular nerve
Correct Answer: B. Middle ear
Rationale: Acute otitis media affects the middle-ear space behind the tympanic membrane. It
frequently follows an upper respiratory infection.
13. Which finding is most consistent with acute otitis media?
