NSG 4067: HEARING
1. A 62-year-old who has worked on an assembly line since he was 24 years old began taking
aspirin for arthritis 6 months ago. The client presents to the nurse with hearing problems and
ringing in the ears. Which of the following problems should the nurse suspect?
A) Tinnitus
B) Vertigo
C) Ototoxicity
D) Impacted cerumen
Ans: C
Feedback:
The older adult has symptoms of ototoxicity. Aspirin is a known ototoxic drug. Tinnitus is the
persistent sensation of ringing in the ears, which is one of this client's symptoms. Vertigo is a
sensation of motion, which is not a reported symptom for this client. Although common,
impacted cerumen would not lead to ringing in the ears.
2. A new nursing assistant asks the nurse how best to approach a hearing-impaired older adult.
Which of the following approaches should the nurse recommend?
A) Raise the volume of your voice.
B) Leave the radio on to calm the older adult.
C) Lower the tone of your voice.
D) Use exaggerated lip movements.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Communication interventions for the hearing impaired should aim at clarity of words. This is
accomplished by slowing the rate of speech and eliminating environmental noise and
distractions. When communicating, lower the tone while speaking in a moderately loud voice.
3. A nurse is teaching a group of hearing-impaired nursing home residents about hearing aids.
Which of the following points should the nurse emphasize?
A) It is not necessary to use the hearing aid for one-on-one conversations.
B) The hearing aid should be used only in the dining room or social area.
C) While inserting the hearing aid, make sure the volume is turned off.
D) If whistling is heard, the volume of the hearing aid may need to be increased.
Ans: C
, Feedback:
The hearing aid should be inserted with the volume off with the canal portion pointing into the
ear. A hearing aid should be used for one-on-one conversation and should not be used in a dining
room where there is background noise. If whistling is heard, the volume should be decreased.
4. A nurse notes that a client who has heart failure could hear well during the last home visit, and
is having difficulty hearing today. Which of the following laboratory findings is most likely
associated with impaired hearing?
A) Albumin of 4.1
B) Creatinine of 4.2
C) Potassium of 4.3
D) Sodium of 144
Ans: B
Feedback:
Older adults with heart failure are at increased risk for hearing loss caused by medications (e.g.,
diuretics) and decreased renal and cardiac perfusion. Normal levels of albumin, potassium, and
sodium are not associated with hearing loss.
5. An 85-year-old woman who lives alone says to the nurse, "There is nothing I can do about my
hearing. I am 85 years old, and I am not really interested in listening to television programs
anymore." Which of the following would be the nurse's best response?
A) "You are lucky you still live alone at 85, and I understand why you don't care about the
programs on television."
B) "Have you talked with your health care provider about a hearing evaluation? This would
determine the problem and possible solutions to it."
C) "I know a hearing aid dealer who offers free testing. Have you thought about trying a
hearing aid?"
D) "Did you know that there are closed-caption television sets that would allow you to enjoy
some shows?"
Ans: B
Feedback:
The first step would be to determine what the problem is. Free testing is not comprehensive in its
evaluative scope. Telling the client she is lucky to be living alone at 85 years of age is
nontherapeutic communication and suggesting that the woman use closed-caption television does
not address the hearing issue.
1. A 62-year-old who has worked on an assembly line since he was 24 years old began taking
aspirin for arthritis 6 months ago. The client presents to the nurse with hearing problems and
ringing in the ears. Which of the following problems should the nurse suspect?
A) Tinnitus
B) Vertigo
C) Ototoxicity
D) Impacted cerumen
Ans: C
Feedback:
The older adult has symptoms of ototoxicity. Aspirin is a known ototoxic drug. Tinnitus is the
persistent sensation of ringing in the ears, which is one of this client's symptoms. Vertigo is a
sensation of motion, which is not a reported symptom for this client. Although common,
impacted cerumen would not lead to ringing in the ears.
2. A new nursing assistant asks the nurse how best to approach a hearing-impaired older adult.
Which of the following approaches should the nurse recommend?
A) Raise the volume of your voice.
B) Leave the radio on to calm the older adult.
C) Lower the tone of your voice.
D) Use exaggerated lip movements.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Communication interventions for the hearing impaired should aim at clarity of words. This is
accomplished by slowing the rate of speech and eliminating environmental noise and
distractions. When communicating, lower the tone while speaking in a moderately loud voice.
3. A nurse is teaching a group of hearing-impaired nursing home residents about hearing aids.
Which of the following points should the nurse emphasize?
A) It is not necessary to use the hearing aid for one-on-one conversations.
B) The hearing aid should be used only in the dining room or social area.
C) While inserting the hearing aid, make sure the volume is turned off.
D) If whistling is heard, the volume of the hearing aid may need to be increased.
Ans: C
, Feedback:
The hearing aid should be inserted with the volume off with the canal portion pointing into the
ear. A hearing aid should be used for one-on-one conversation and should not be used in a dining
room where there is background noise. If whistling is heard, the volume should be decreased.
4. A nurse notes that a client who has heart failure could hear well during the last home visit, and
is having difficulty hearing today. Which of the following laboratory findings is most likely
associated with impaired hearing?
A) Albumin of 4.1
B) Creatinine of 4.2
C) Potassium of 4.3
D) Sodium of 144
Ans: B
Feedback:
Older adults with heart failure are at increased risk for hearing loss caused by medications (e.g.,
diuretics) and decreased renal and cardiac perfusion. Normal levels of albumin, potassium, and
sodium are not associated with hearing loss.
5. An 85-year-old woman who lives alone says to the nurse, "There is nothing I can do about my
hearing. I am 85 years old, and I am not really interested in listening to television programs
anymore." Which of the following would be the nurse's best response?
A) "You are lucky you still live alone at 85, and I understand why you don't care about the
programs on television."
B) "Have you talked with your health care provider about a hearing evaluation? This would
determine the problem and possible solutions to it."
C) "I know a hearing aid dealer who offers free testing. Have you thought about trying a
hearing aid?"
D) "Did you know that there are closed-caption television sets that would allow you to enjoy
some shows?"
Ans: B
Feedback:
The first step would be to determine what the problem is. Free testing is not comprehensive in its
evaluative scope. Telling the client she is lucky to be living alone at 85 years of age is
nontherapeutic communication and suggesting that the woman use closed-caption television does
not address the hearing issue.
