Chapter 60: Ear and Hearing Disorders
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A young woman being admitted to the clinic service states that all the members of her
family have been hard of hearing: She says her hearing loss became more pronounced
when she was pregnant: What term explains this type of hearing loss?
a. Otosclerosis
b. Ototoxicity
c. Otalgia
d. Otitis media
ANS: A
Otosclerosis is hereditary, develops in young women, and worsens with pregnancy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 1188 OBJ: 1
TOP: Otosclerosis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
2. What should a nurse include when educating a patient with Ménière disease?
a. “When you feel dizzy, just stay in bed and take your medications:”
b. “Decrease your sodium intake and take your diuretic medication between attacks:”
c. “Vestibular rehabilitation might help, and you can still drink your morning
coffee:”
d. “Your vertigo will get better if you take your medications: You won’t need any
relaxation techniques:”
ANS: B
A low-sodium diet and diuretic medications between attacks will prevent edema,
which could cause an attack:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 1190 OBJ: 2
TOP: Inner Ear KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
, MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early
Detection of Disease
3. A 75-year-old patient reports having difficulty hearing in crowds but can hear just fine at
home with his wife: What hearing disorder should the nurse suspect?
a. Otitis media
b. Presbycusis
c. Ototoxicity
d. Central deafness
ANS: B
Presbycusis is a conductive hearing loss associated with normal aging and is caused
by changes in the cochlea:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 1191 OBJ: 1
TOP: Presbycusis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
4. A 94-year-old patient is receiving gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) in a continuous
intravenous (IV) infusion: the nurse adds to the nursing care plan the patient problem
“Potential injury:” What nursing action should be implemented?
a. Pull side rails in place:
b. Assist with ambulation:
c. Measure intake and output:
d. Provide for a possible seizure:
ANS: C
Reduced urine output would cause the drug to stay in the system rather than being
excreted, which could result in a drug saturation: Gentamicin is ototoxic and can
cause hearing impairment:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 1193 OBJ: 2
TOP: Gentamicin KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A young woman being admitted to the clinic service states that all the members of her
family have been hard of hearing: She says her hearing loss became more pronounced
when she was pregnant: What term explains this type of hearing loss?
a. Otosclerosis
b. Ototoxicity
c. Otalgia
d. Otitis media
ANS: A
Otosclerosis is hereditary, develops in young women, and worsens with pregnancy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 1188 OBJ: 1
TOP: Otosclerosis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
2. What should a nurse include when educating a patient with Ménière disease?
a. “When you feel dizzy, just stay in bed and take your medications:”
b. “Decrease your sodium intake and take your diuretic medication between attacks:”
c. “Vestibular rehabilitation might help, and you can still drink your morning
coffee:”
d. “Your vertigo will get better if you take your medications: You won’t need any
relaxation techniques:”
ANS: B
A low-sodium diet and diuretic medications between attacks will prevent edema,
which could cause an attack:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 1190 OBJ: 2
TOP: Inner Ear KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
, MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early
Detection of Disease
3. A 75-year-old patient reports having difficulty hearing in crowds but can hear just fine at
home with his wife: What hearing disorder should the nurse suspect?
a. Otitis media
b. Presbycusis
c. Ototoxicity
d. Central deafness
ANS: B
Presbycusis is a conductive hearing loss associated with normal aging and is caused
by changes in the cochlea:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 1191 OBJ: 1
TOP: Presbycusis KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
4. A 94-year-old patient is receiving gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) in a continuous
intravenous (IV) infusion: the nurse adds to the nursing care plan the patient problem
“Potential injury:” What nursing action should be implemented?
a. Pull side rails in place:
b. Assist with ambulation:
c. Measure intake and output:
d. Provide for a possible seizure:
ANS: C
Reduced urine output would cause the drug to stay in the system rather than being
excreted, which could result in a drug saturation: Gentamicin is ototoxic and can
cause hearing impairment:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 1193 OBJ: 2
TOP: Gentamicin KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
