NSG 3280 Unit 6: Eye & Ear Conditions Practice Questions &
Answers
Select All That Apply (SATA)
1. A nurse is reviewing the chart of a 45year-old White woman recently diagnosed with
otosclerosis. Which findings are consistent with the known pathophysiology and clinical
manifestations of this condition?
A. The hearing loss started in one ear but has the potential to affect both.
B. Normal bone is destroyed and replaced with spongelike bone on the ossicles.
C. The primary hearing loss is sensorineural due resulting from damage to the organ of Corti.
D. The client may experience tinnitus.
E. The condition is associated with ossicle fixation, especially the stapes bone foot plate.
Answer: A, B, D, E
Rationale: Otosclerosis typically starts in one ear but can affect both. It involves the destruction
of normal bone and replacement with spongelike bone, particularly on the stapes foot plate,
which leads to decreased sound wave transmission. Tinnitus is a common clinical manifestation.
Otosclerosis primarily causes conductive hearing loss, although stapes fixation can lead to
sensorineural loss as well.
Sensorineural loss alone is more characteristic of issues like ototoxicity or loud noise exposure.
2. A client reports that over the last several years, they have gradually struggled to hear
conversations and higher-pitched sounds. This hearing loss is bilateral. The nurse
recognizes these characteristics are most indicative of which condition? A. Meniere
Disease.
B. Otosclerosis.
C. Trauma Hearing loss.
D. Presbycusis.
Answer: D
Rationale: Presbycusis is the most common hearing loss in older adults, characterized by being
gradual and bilateral. Patients with Presbycusis struggle the most with higher pitched sounds
and
, conversations. Meniere disease causes unilateral low-tone loss. Otosclerosis starts in one ear and
is primarily conductive loss. Trauma hearing loss is bilateral sensorineural loss, but the gradual,
specific struggle with high pitches and conversations points strongly toward Presbycusis.
3. A patient is experiencing an acute exacerbation of Meniere disease. The patient reports
sudden-onset vertigo, which reached maximum intensity within minutes. Which nursing
intervention is the priority based on these symptoms?
A. Administering a PRN medication for buzzing tinnitus.
B. Documenting the duration of the low tone hearing loss.
C. Implementing fall precautions.
D. Assessing for nystagmus directed toward the affected ear.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Meniere disease causes sudden-onset vertigo which lasts for hours and can lead to
unsteadiness for days. Implementing fall precautions immediately is the highest priority to
ensure patient safety. Nystagmus is directed to the side of the unaffected ear, not the affected
ear.
4. A client is diagnosed with hearing loss caused by chronic, repeated exposure to sounds
greater than 85 decibels. The nurse understands that this type of hearing loss involves
injury to which inner ear structure? A. Ossicles and middle ear fluid.
B. The Eustachian tube and middle ear space.
C. Cochlear hair cells and the Organ of Corti.
D. The stapes bone foot plate.
Answer: C
Rationale: Trauma hearing loss caused by chronic loud sounds injures the hair cells and the
organ of Corti in the inner ear, leading to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Issues with the
ossicles and middle ear fluid cause conductive loss.
5. A patient is prescribed a new aminoglycoside antibiotic. The nurse teaches the patient that
this medication can cause sensorineural hearing loss through which mechanism?
A. Causing Eustachian tube dysfunction and inflammation.
B. Inducing atrophy of the cochlear wall.
Answers
Select All That Apply (SATA)
1. A nurse is reviewing the chart of a 45year-old White woman recently diagnosed with
otosclerosis. Which findings are consistent with the known pathophysiology and clinical
manifestations of this condition?
A. The hearing loss started in one ear but has the potential to affect both.
B. Normal bone is destroyed and replaced with spongelike bone on the ossicles.
C. The primary hearing loss is sensorineural due resulting from damage to the organ of Corti.
D. The client may experience tinnitus.
E. The condition is associated with ossicle fixation, especially the stapes bone foot plate.
Answer: A, B, D, E
Rationale: Otosclerosis typically starts in one ear but can affect both. It involves the destruction
of normal bone and replacement with spongelike bone, particularly on the stapes foot plate,
which leads to decreased sound wave transmission. Tinnitus is a common clinical manifestation.
Otosclerosis primarily causes conductive hearing loss, although stapes fixation can lead to
sensorineural loss as well.
Sensorineural loss alone is more characteristic of issues like ototoxicity or loud noise exposure.
2. A client reports that over the last several years, they have gradually struggled to hear
conversations and higher-pitched sounds. This hearing loss is bilateral. The nurse
recognizes these characteristics are most indicative of which condition? A. Meniere
Disease.
B. Otosclerosis.
C. Trauma Hearing loss.
D. Presbycusis.
Answer: D
Rationale: Presbycusis is the most common hearing loss in older adults, characterized by being
gradual and bilateral. Patients with Presbycusis struggle the most with higher pitched sounds
and
, conversations. Meniere disease causes unilateral low-tone loss. Otosclerosis starts in one ear and
is primarily conductive loss. Trauma hearing loss is bilateral sensorineural loss, but the gradual,
specific struggle with high pitches and conversations points strongly toward Presbycusis.
3. A patient is experiencing an acute exacerbation of Meniere disease. The patient reports
sudden-onset vertigo, which reached maximum intensity within minutes. Which nursing
intervention is the priority based on these symptoms?
A. Administering a PRN medication for buzzing tinnitus.
B. Documenting the duration of the low tone hearing loss.
C. Implementing fall precautions.
D. Assessing for nystagmus directed toward the affected ear.
Answer: C
Rationale:
Meniere disease causes sudden-onset vertigo which lasts for hours and can lead to
unsteadiness for days. Implementing fall precautions immediately is the highest priority to
ensure patient safety. Nystagmus is directed to the side of the unaffected ear, not the affected
ear.
4. A client is diagnosed with hearing loss caused by chronic, repeated exposure to sounds
greater than 85 decibels. The nurse understands that this type of hearing loss involves
injury to which inner ear structure? A. Ossicles and middle ear fluid.
B. The Eustachian tube and middle ear space.
C. Cochlear hair cells and the Organ of Corti.
D. The stapes bone foot plate.
Answer: C
Rationale: Trauma hearing loss caused by chronic loud sounds injures the hair cells and the
organ of Corti in the inner ear, leading to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Issues with the
ossicles and middle ear fluid cause conductive loss.
5. A patient is prescribed a new aminoglycoside antibiotic. The nurse teaches the patient that
this medication can cause sensorineural hearing loss through which mechanism?
A. Causing Eustachian tube dysfunction and inflammation.
B. Inducing atrophy of the cochlear wall.
