Podcast
Questions and Answers
When administering eardrops, the nurse needs to pull the portion of the ear that consists of movable cartilage and skin down and back. This portion of the ear is called the:
When administering eardrops, the nurse needs to pull the portion of the ear that consists of movable cartilage and skin down and back. This portion of the ear is called the:
- Auricle (correct)
- Mastoid process
- Concha
- Outer meatus
What is the purpose of cerumen in the ear?
What is the purpose of cerumen in the ear?
- Sticky honey-colored cerumen is a sign of infection.
- Cerumen is a yellow waxy material that lubricates and protects the ear. (correct)
- Cerumen is necessary for transmitting sound through the auditory canal.
- The presence of cerumen is indicative of poor hygiene.
When examining the ear with an otoscope, the nurse notes that the tympanic membrane should appear:
When examining the ear with an otoscope, the nurse notes that the tympanic membrane should appear:
- Pearly gray and slightly concave. (correct)
- Pulled in at the base of the cone of light.
- Whitish with a small fleck of light in the superior portion.
- Light pink with a slight bulge.
Which of the following symptoms is not associated with otitis externa?
Which of the following symptoms is not associated with otitis externa?
What does an amber-yellow color of the tympanic membrane suggest?
What does an amber-yellow color of the tympanic membrane suggest?
What is the preliminary analysis of an ulcerated crusted nodule with an indurated base that intermittently bleeds and has not healed over the past 6 months behind the pinna?
What is the preliminary analysis of an ulcerated crusted nodule with an indurated base that intermittently bleeds and has not healed over the past 6 months behind the pinna?
What are the early signs of otitis media based on findings of the tympanic membrane?
What are the early signs of otitis media based on findings of the tympanic membrane?
Which structure allows passage of air between the middle and outer ear, helping equalize air pressure?
Which structure allows passage of air between the middle and outer ear, helping equalize air pressure?
What is the normal pathway for hearing?
What is the normal pathway for hearing?
Which type of hearing loss may be caused by presbycusis and ototoxic drugs?
Which type of hearing loss may be caused by presbycusis and ototoxic drugs?
Which portion of the ear is responsible for vertigo?
Which portion of the ear is responsible for vertigo?
What can damage the organ of Corti and impair hearing in infants if it occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy?
What can damage the organ of Corti and impair hearing in infants if it occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy?
Why are infants more prone to ear infections?
Why are infants more prone to ear infections?
When does the eustachian tube normally open?
When does the eustachian tube normally open?
What conducts nerve impulses to the brain from the organ of Corti?
What conducts nerve impulses to the brain from the organ of Corti?
What is the function of the middle ear?
What is the function of the middle ear?
What results from mechanical dysfunction of the external or middle ear?
What results from mechanical dysfunction of the external or middle ear?
What causes conductive hearing loss?
What causes conductive hearing loss?
What may cause sensorineural hearing loss?
What may cause sensorineural hearing loss?
Which type of hearing loss is associated with otosclerosis?
Which type of hearing loss is associated with otosclerosis?
What is presbycusis?
What is presbycusis?
Which type of cerumen is more common in Asians and Native Americans?
Which type of cerumen is more common in Asians and Native Americans?
What should be the focus of history questions with suspected perforated eardrum?
What should be the focus of history questions with suspected perforated eardrum?
What is recruitment in the context of hearing loss?
What is recruitment in the context of hearing loss?
What could put a child at risk for hearing deficits during pregnancy?
What could put a child at risk for hearing deficits during pregnancy?
What is the correct action during an otoscopic examination on an adult?
What is the correct action during an otoscopic examination on an adult?
Why is assessing for any drainage from the ear canal in a patient with head injuries crucial?
Why is assessing for any drainage from the ear canal in a patient with head injuries crucial?
What does purulent drainage from the ear after trauma suggest?
What does purulent drainage from the ear after trauma suggest?
What should the nurse do when performing a voice test to assess hearing?
What should the nurse do when performing a voice test to assess hearing?
What is the expected response of a 7-month-old infant to a loud sudden noise?
What is the expected response of a 7-month-old infant to a loud sudden noise?
What is the purpose of tympanostomy tubes?
What is the purpose of tympanostomy tubes?
What are the signs of otitis externa?
What are the signs of otitis externa?
What is the normal distance for the nurse to stand during the otoscopic examination to ensure the patient can hear whispered sounds?
What is the normal distance for the nurse to stand during the otoscopic examination to ensure the patient can hear whispered sounds?
When should the eardrum assessment be performed for infants or children with illness or fever?
When should the eardrum assessment be performed for infants or children with illness or fever?
What is the expected appearance of the tympanic membrane in a newborn?
What is the expected appearance of the tympanic membrane in a newborn?
What is the significance of high-tone frequency hearing loss and increased elasticity of the pinna in an 80-year-old patient?
What is the significance of high-tone frequency hearing loss and increased elasticity of the pinna in an 80-year-old patient?
What could indicate frostbite from prolonged exposure to extreme cold in a 23-year-old patient?
What could indicate frostbite from prolonged exposure to extreme cold in a 23-year-old patient?
What may indicate acute otitis media in a 3-year-old?
What may indicate acute otitis media in a 3-year-old?
What are the signs of otitis externa?
What are the signs of otitis externa?
What is the expected response of an infant to a loud sudden noise?
What is the expected response of an infant to a loud sudden noise?
What is the expected response of a 7-month-old infant to a loud sudden noise?
What is the expected response of a 7-month-old infant to a loud sudden noise?
Study Notes
Hearing Loss Assessment and Management
- Otosclerosis is a common cause of conductive hearing loss in young adults aged 20-40 years.
- Presbycusis is a gradual sensorineural hearing loss that occurs in 60% of those older than 65 years, affecting localization of sound in noisy environments.
- Dry, flaky cerumen in the ear canal is more common in Asians and Native Americans, while wet cerumen is typical in Blacks and Whites.
- With a suspected perforated eardrum, a history question should focus on the relationship between ear pain and discharge.
- Recruitment is significant hearing loss that becomes painful when speech is at low intensity and is a characteristic of this condition.
- Exposure to maternal ototoxic drugs or maternal rubella during pregnancy could put a child at risk for hearing deficits.
- During an otoscopic examination on an adult, the correct action is to pull the pinna up and back before inserting the speculum.
- Assessing for any drainage from the ear canal in a patient with head injuries is crucial as bloody or clear watery drainage can indicate a basal skull fracture.
- Purulent drainage from the ear after trauma suggests otitis externa or otitis media, while cerebrospinal leak indicates a basal skull fracture.
- In performing a voice test to assess hearing, the nurse should not shield the lips to muffle the sound.
Ear Examination and Assessment Summary
- Otoscopic examination involves whispering random numbers and letters to the patient and asking them to repeat to test hearing.
- Eardrum assessment is mandatory for infants or children with illness or fever and should be performed toward the end of the examination.
- The appearance of the tympanic membrane in a newborn may appear thick and opaque, with mild redness.
- A 7-month-old infant is expected to turn their head to localize a loud sudden noise.
- For an 80-year-old patient, high-tone frequency hearing loss and increased elasticity of the pinna are normal findings.
- Reddish-blue discoloration and swelling of the auricle in a 23-year-old patient could indicate frostbite from prolonged exposure to extreme cold.
- A bright red tympanic membrane with an absent or distorted light reflex in a 3-year-old may indicate acute otitis media.
- Tympanostomy tubes are surgically inserted into the eardrum to relieve middle ear pressure and promote drainage in children with chronic or recurrent middle ear infections.
- In otitis externa, signs include severe swelling of the canal, inflammation, and tenderness, with lymphatic drainage flowing to the parotid, mastoid, and superficial cervical nodes.
- The nurse should stand approximately 4 feet away to ensure the patient can hear whispered sounds during the otoscopic examination.
- It is essential to perform an otoscopic examination in infants and children with suspected ear infections or illness, and the timing of the examination is best toward the end of the complete assessment.
- The nurse should notice the infant turning their head to localize the sound and respond to their name with a loud sudden noise.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
