Ears

A client presents with otalgia and yellow-green discharge from the external ear canal. Which question should the nurse ask to determine the cause of this problem? "Have you had any recent trauma to the inside of your ear?" "Have you ever taken medication that is ototoxic?" "Do you hear ringing in your ears?" "Are their times when you feel dizzy?"

"Have you had any recent trauma to the inside of your ear?"

Which statement reflects accurate documentation by the nurse of a normal, left tympanic membrane? Pearly gray, translucent, with cone of light at 7 o'clock position Light yellow, slightly protruding, with cone of light at 7 o'clock position Pearly gray, translucent, with cone of light at 5 o'clock position Light pink, opaque, with cone of light at 5 o'clock position

A normal tympanic membrane should be pearly gray, shiny, translucent. The cone of light in the left ear is located at the 7 o'clock position. The cone of light will be located at the 5 o'clock position in the right ear.

While assessing the ears of an 8-year-old client, the nurse observes white spots on the tympanic membrane with no redness present. Which action would be most appropriate? Determine whether impacted cerumen is present. Ask the mother whether the child has had numerous ear infections. Assess the child for further symptoms of acute otitis media. Assess the client for trauma to the skull.

Ask the mother whether the child has had numerous ear infections.

As a part of the ear examination for hearing loss, a nurse conducts a Weber test on a client. To accurately perform this test, the nurse should place the base of the tuning fork in which of the following locations? In front of the external auditory canal At the center of the client's forehead Behind the external auditory canal On the client's mastoid process

At the center of the client's forehead

An alternate pathway that bypasses the external and middle ear is called what?

Bone Conduction

The nurse would suspect a problem at which area when pressure builds up on either side of the tympanic membrane? Vestibulocochlear nerve Eustachian tube Cochlea Organ of Corti

Eustachian tube

An avid swimmer presents with ear pain. Her history includes pain and drainage from the left ear. On examination, she has pain when the ear, including the tragus, is manipulated. The canal is narrowed and erythematous with some white debris in the canal. The rest of the examination is normal. What diagnosis would be most appropriate for this client? Cholesteatoma Perforation of the tympanum External otitis Otitis media

External otitis

A nurse is preparing a community education session on hearing loss. Which information should the nurse include? Hearing loss typically begins after the age of 40. Hearing loss can contribute to emotional isolation. All ethnic groups experience hearing loss in the same way. In order to hold a driver's license, hearing must be tested regularly.

Hearing loss can contribute to emotional isolation.

Which finding should a nurse recognize as a normal when assessing the ears of an elderly client? Decrease in cerumen production High tone frequency loss Bulging tympanic membrane Increased elasticity of the pinna

High tone frequency loss

In examining a client's external auditory canal with an otoscope, the nurse discovers impacted ear wax, known as cerumen. Which of the following is characteristic of cerumen? Select all that apply. Serves as a defense against foreign bodies Has a sticky consistency Keeps the tympanic membrane soft Serves as a partition stretched across the inner end of the auditory canal Has a translucent, pearly gray appearance Has bacteriostatic properties

Keeps the tympanic membrane soft Has bacteriostatic properties Serves as a defense against foreign bodies Has a sticky consistency

The emergency department nurse notes a clear, watery discharge from the client's ear following a bicycle accident. Which of the following actions should the nurse do next? Assess for foreign body impaction. Position the client to facilitate drainage. Refer the client immediately for further evaluation. Examine for postauricular cysts.

Refer the client immediately for further evaluation.

A client admitted to the health care facility is diagnosed with vertigo. Which test is appropriate for the nurse to perform to assess for equilibrium in the client? Whisper Romberg Rinne Weber

Romberg

While reviewing the health history of a 72 year old client experiencing hearing loss the nurse notes the client has had no trauma or loss of balance. What data is likely to be linked to the client's hearing deficit? Recent completion of radiation therapy for treatment of thyroid cancer. Routine use of quinine for management of leg cramps. Allergy to hair coloring and hair spray. Previous perforation of the eardrum as a result of a high dive.

Routine use of quinine for management of leg cramps

The nurse notes that an older client has white spots on the tympanic membrane of the left ear. What should this finding indicate to the nurse? Trauma from a current infection Acute otitis media Scars from previous ear infections Serous otitis media

Scars from previous ear infections

A client is diagnosed with otosclerosis, a condition in which the auditory ossicles develop a spongy consistency, which results in conductive hearing loss. It appears that the worst site is the inner most bone, which transmits sound waves through the oval window. Which bone is this? Stapes Malleus Incus Umbo

Stapes

A client diagnosed with arthritis has been taking aspirin and now reports experiencing adverse effects. What adverse effect indicates that a decrease in dose may be necessary? Vertigo Tinnitus Otalgia Nystagmus

Tinnitus

Which of the following manifestations is the most problematic for the client diagnosed with Meniere's disease? Hearing loss Tinnitus Diaphoresis Vertigo

Vertigo

A nurse is teaching about hygiene and the prevention of illness. When instructing clients how to clean their ears, what action should the nurse recommend?

Washing with a warm, moist washcloth

The nurse assessing for unilateral hearing loss by using a tuning fork. What test is the nurse performing? Watch tick test Weber's test Whisper test Rinne test

Weber's test

When conducting the Weber test a client reports hearing the sound better in the right ear. What should this finding indicate to the nurse? Conductive hearing loss in the right ear Ruptured tympanic membrane of the right ear Conductive hearing loss in the left ear Infection of the auditory canal of the left ear

With conductive hearing loss, the client reports hearing the sound better in the poor ear which in this case is the right ear. The left ear is considered the "good" ear. This finding is not necessarily associated with an ear infection or a ruptured tympanic membrane.

The nurse has performed the Rinne test on an older adult client. After the test, the client reports that her bone conduction sound was heard longer than the air conduction sound. The nurse determines that the client is most likely experiencing conductive hearing loss. normal hearing. central hearing loss. sensorineural hearing loss.

conductive hearing loss

During the focused assessment, the client experiences pain when the nurse manipulates (wiggles) the pinna of the ear. Based on these findings, the nurse suspects the client may be experiencing which of the following disorders? otitis media otalgia otitis externa tinnitus

otitis externa

A nurse performs a hearing test on an elderly client. Which result should the nurse recognize as an indication that presbycusis is present? An inability to hear: the sound of "th" the tuning fork whispered sounds the calling bell

whispered sounds