Chapter 59 Assessment and Management of Patients With Hearing
and Balance Disorders
1.Which of the following assessment findings is characteristic of otitis externa? A)
Tophi on the pinna and earlobe
B) Dark yellow cerumen in the external auditory canal
C) Pain on manipulation of the auricle
D) Air bubbles visible in the middle ear
2.The nurse is reviewing the health history of a 72-year-old patient experiencing hearing loss.
Which of the following data is likely to be linked to the patient's hearing deficit?
A) Recent completion of radiation therapy for treatment of thyroid cancer
B) Routine use of quinine for management of leg cramps
C) Allergy to hair coloring and hair spray
D) Previous perforation of the eardrum as a result of a high dive
3.A patient with hearing loss is being evaluated to determine whether the loss is sensorineural or
conductive. Which of the following Weber's test results indicates the presence of a
sensorineural loss?
A) The sound is heard better in the ear in which he has better hearing.
B) The sound is heard equally in both ears.
C) The sound is heard better in the ear in which he has poorer hearing. D) The
sound is heard longer in the ear in which he has better hearing.
4.Which of the following behaviors is typically demonstrated by patients who are gradually
developing sensorineural hearing loss?
A) Denial of tinnitus C) Refusal to provide a health history
B) Withdrawal from social contact D) Mumbling when interviewed
, 5.The school nurse is teaching a class of 10th graders about noise-induced hearing loss. Which of
the following concepts regarding this type of hearing loss is correct?
A) It results from exposure to noise levels above 150 decibels.
B) The pathological process involved in noise-induced hearing loss is rupture of the ossicles in the
middle ear.
C) Noise-induced hearing loss is reversible because specific medications can improve
or
restore hearing.
D) Loud, low-frequency sound, such as that made by a base guitar, is more damaging than high-
frequency sound.
6.Which of the following commonly used English words would the patient with presbycusis be
least likely to hear accurately?
A) Church B) Dinner C) Reach D) Market
7.The nurse is irrigating a patient's ear with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to
remove impacted cerumen. Which of the following nursing interventions is most important in
order to minimize nausea and vertigo during the procedure?
A) Maintain the irrigation fluid at 98° Fahrenheit.
B) Instill no more than 30 mL of fluid each time the syringe is inserted into the ear canal.
C) Follow the procedure with insertion of a cerumen curette to extract missed ear wax.
D) Aim the stream of irrigation fluid directly at the impacted cerumen.
8.A patient with conductive hearing loss due to otosclerosis undergoes a stapedectomy with
insertion of a prosthesis. Which of the following information is most crucial to include in the
patient's preoperative teaching?
A) 35% of patients will not experience restoration of hearing.
B) Noticeable improvement in hearing may not be experienced for up to 6 weeks after surgery.
C) The nurse must assist the patient to get out of bed on the first postoperative day.
D) Close-captioned TV programs are available at the hospital to meet the needs of hearing-
impaired patients.
and Balance Disorders
1.Which of the following assessment findings is characteristic of otitis externa? A)
Tophi on the pinna and earlobe
B) Dark yellow cerumen in the external auditory canal
C) Pain on manipulation of the auricle
D) Air bubbles visible in the middle ear
2.The nurse is reviewing the health history of a 72-year-old patient experiencing hearing loss.
Which of the following data is likely to be linked to the patient's hearing deficit?
A) Recent completion of radiation therapy for treatment of thyroid cancer
B) Routine use of quinine for management of leg cramps
C) Allergy to hair coloring and hair spray
D) Previous perforation of the eardrum as a result of a high dive
3.A patient with hearing loss is being evaluated to determine whether the loss is sensorineural or
conductive. Which of the following Weber's test results indicates the presence of a
sensorineural loss?
A) The sound is heard better in the ear in which he has better hearing.
B) The sound is heard equally in both ears.
C) The sound is heard better in the ear in which he has poorer hearing. D) The
sound is heard longer in the ear in which he has better hearing.
4.Which of the following behaviors is typically demonstrated by patients who are gradually
developing sensorineural hearing loss?
A) Denial of tinnitus C) Refusal to provide a health history
B) Withdrawal from social contact D) Mumbling when interviewed
, 5.The school nurse is teaching a class of 10th graders about noise-induced hearing loss. Which of
the following concepts regarding this type of hearing loss is correct?
A) It results from exposure to noise levels above 150 decibels.
B) The pathological process involved in noise-induced hearing loss is rupture of the ossicles in the
middle ear.
C) Noise-induced hearing loss is reversible because specific medications can improve
or
restore hearing.
D) Loud, low-frequency sound, such as that made by a base guitar, is more damaging than high-
frequency sound.
6.Which of the following commonly used English words would the patient with presbycusis be
least likely to hear accurately?
A) Church B) Dinner C) Reach D) Market
7.The nurse is irrigating a patient's ear with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water to
remove impacted cerumen. Which of the following nursing interventions is most important in
order to minimize nausea and vertigo during the procedure?
A) Maintain the irrigation fluid at 98° Fahrenheit.
B) Instill no more than 30 mL of fluid each time the syringe is inserted into the ear canal.
C) Follow the procedure with insertion of a cerumen curette to extract missed ear wax.
D) Aim the stream of irrigation fluid directly at the impacted cerumen.
8.A patient with conductive hearing loss due to otosclerosis undergoes a stapedectomy with
insertion of a prosthesis. Which of the following information is most crucial to include in the
patient's preoperative teaching?
A) 35% of patients will not experience restoration of hearing.
B) Noticeable improvement in hearing may not be experienced for up to 6 weeks after surgery.
C) The nurse must assist the patient to get out of bed on the first postoperative day.
D) Close-captioned TV programs are available at the hospital to meet the needs of hearing-
impaired patients.
