PA RT 2
PASS.
PAT I E N T C A R E A S S I S TA N T · C E R T I F I C AT I O N E X A M P R E P
PCA Exam — Part 2
Practice Question Bank
Ear Disorders, Oral Lesions & Thyroid Assessment
C O N T I N U AT I O N :
Hearing Tests, Ear Abnormalities, Oral Cavity
— Facial Lesions & Thyroid Examination
Edition 1 · July 2026
EXAM FOCUSED DETAILED ENT & ORAL BUILD CONFIDENCE
RATIONALES
Aligned with PCA Ear, nose, mouth & throat Master your PCA exam
certification Clear explanations for mastery
P r e pa r e · P r a c t i c e · Pa s s
Excellence in Patient Care Assistant Certification
,PCA EXAM · OPHTHALMOLOGY & ENT — PART 2 QUESTIONS 1–25
Section 1: Ear Disorders, Hearing Tests & Ear Abnormalities
1 Meniere's disease should be suspected when a patient presents with:
A Hearing loss and vertigo occurring together
B Vertigo without any hearing changes
C Tinnitus as the only symptom
D Ear pain with purulent discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Meniere's disease is characterized by the triad of
episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus — with aural
fullness. The combination of hearing loss AND vertigo distinguishes it from other
vestibular disorders that affect balance without hearing changes.
2 Concerning symptoms during vertigo include:
A Focal weakness and nystagmus — suggesting central rather than
peripheral cause
B Nausea and vomiting only
C Diaphoresis and pallor
D Tinnitus without hearing loss
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Focal neurological signs (weakness, dysarthria, ataxia)
with vertigo suggest central causes like stroke or brainstem lesion — requiring
urgent evaluation. Nausea, diaphoresis, and tinnitus are common in peripheral
vestibular disorders and less concerning.
, 3 Potential triggers of vertigo include:
A Loud noise, bright lights, and quick change in position
B Only dietary triggers like caffeine
C Emotional stress exclusively
D Temperature changes only
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Vertigo can be triggered by sensory input (loud sounds,
bright lights) and positional changes (BPPV). Identifying triggers helps
differentiate between peripheral causes (positional, sensory) and central causes
(spontaneous, continuous).
4 Exostosis of the ear appears as:
A A benign bony growth in the external auditory canal, often from cold
water exposure
B Inflammation of the external ear canal
C A perforation of the tympanic membrane
D Calcium deposits on the tympanic membrane
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Exostosis (surfer's ear) is benign bony overgrowth in the
ear canal from chronic cold water exposure. Otitis externa is canal inflammation;
TM perforation is a hole; tympanosclerosis is calcium deposits on the TM.
PASS.
PAT I E N T C A R E A S S I S TA N T · C E R T I F I C AT I O N E X A M P R E P
PCA Exam — Part 2
Practice Question Bank
Ear Disorders, Oral Lesions & Thyroid Assessment
C O N T I N U AT I O N :
Hearing Tests, Ear Abnormalities, Oral Cavity
— Facial Lesions & Thyroid Examination
Edition 1 · July 2026
EXAM FOCUSED DETAILED ENT & ORAL BUILD CONFIDENCE
RATIONALES
Aligned with PCA Ear, nose, mouth & throat Master your PCA exam
certification Clear explanations for mastery
P r e pa r e · P r a c t i c e · Pa s s
Excellence in Patient Care Assistant Certification
,PCA EXAM · OPHTHALMOLOGY & ENT — PART 2 QUESTIONS 1–25
Section 1: Ear Disorders, Hearing Tests & Ear Abnormalities
1 Meniere's disease should be suspected when a patient presents with:
A Hearing loss and vertigo occurring together
B Vertigo without any hearing changes
C Tinnitus as the only symptom
D Ear pain with purulent discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Meniere's disease is characterized by the triad of
episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus — with aural
fullness. The combination of hearing loss AND vertigo distinguishes it from other
vestibular disorders that affect balance without hearing changes.
2 Concerning symptoms during vertigo include:
A Focal weakness and nystagmus — suggesting central rather than
peripheral cause
B Nausea and vomiting only
C Diaphoresis and pallor
D Tinnitus without hearing loss
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Focal neurological signs (weakness, dysarthria, ataxia)
with vertigo suggest central causes like stroke or brainstem lesion — requiring
urgent evaluation. Nausea, diaphoresis, and tinnitus are common in peripheral
vestibular disorders and less concerning.
, 3 Potential triggers of vertigo include:
A Loud noise, bright lights, and quick change in position
B Only dietary triggers like caffeine
C Emotional stress exclusively
D Temperature changes only
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Vertigo can be triggered by sensory input (loud sounds,
bright lights) and positional changes (BPPV). Identifying triggers helps
differentiate between peripheral causes (positional, sensory) and central causes
(spontaneous, continuous).
4 Exostosis of the ear appears as:
A A benign bony growth in the external auditory canal, often from cold
water exposure
B Inflammation of the external ear canal
C A perforation of the tympanic membrane
D Calcium deposits on the tympanic membrane
CORRECT ANSWER: A
CLINICAL RATIONALE: Exostosis (surfer's ear) is benign bony overgrowth in the
ear canal from chronic cold water exposure. Otitis externa is canal inflammation;
TM perforation is a hole; tympanosclerosis is calcium deposits on the TM.
