A patient is diagnosed with left ear unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. During the performance of the Weber test, the nurse expects lateralization of the sound/vibration to the:

Left temporal bone
Both ears equally
Right ear
Left ear
The Correct Answer is C
Choice a reason:
The left temporal bone would be the expected site of lateralization for sound in a Weber test if the patient had conductive hearing loss in the left ear. However, with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the sound typically lateralizes to the opposite ear, which is the ear with better hearing.
Choice b reason:
Lateralization to both ears equally during the Weber test would suggest either normal hearing or symmetrical hearing loss. In the case of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the sound is not perceived as equal in both ears because the affected ear does not hear as well as the unaffected ear.
Choice c reason:
In a patient with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear, the Weber test will lateralize to the right ear, which is the ear with normal hearing. This occurs because the inner ear on the affected side is not able to transmit the sound as effectively as the unaffected side, making the sound seem louder in the ear with better hearing.
Choice d reason:
Lateralization to the left ear in the Weber test would indicate conductive hearing loss in the left ear, not sensorineural hearing loss. In sensorineural hearing loss, the sound vibrates to the ear with better cochlear function, which would be the right ear in this case.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice a reason:
Assisting the client to a sitting position is not the best action to ensure that bowel sounds can be heard. For abdominal auscultation, the patient should be lying down in a supine position to relax the abdominal muscles, which facilitates the hearing of bowel sounds.
Choice b reason:
Percussion of the abdomen before auscultation is not recommended as the best initial action. Percussion can stimulate bowel motility, which may alter the natural bowel sounds that the nurse is attempting to assess.
Choice c reason:
Reducing all environmental noise is the best action to ensure that bowel sounds can be heard clearly. Environmental noise can mask the subtle sounds of bowel motility, and minimizing distractions allows for a more accurate assessment of bowel activity.
Choice d reason:
Palpating the region before auscultating is not the best action because palpation can also stimulate bowel motility and potentially alter the bowel sounds. Auscultation should be performed before palpation during the abdominal examination to avoid this issue.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice a reason:
The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, is a critical component of the middle ear. It is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear and vibrates in response to sound waves. These vibrations are then transmitted to the ossicles within the middle ear, which amplify and carry the sound to the inner ear.
Choice b reason:
The ear lobe is part of the external ear, not the middle ear. It is composed of soft skin and fatty tissue and does not play a role in hearing. The ear lobe serves primarily as a site for body decoration such as earrings.
Choice c reason:
The cochlea is a structure located in the inner ear. It is a spiral-shaped organ that contains the organ of Corti, the sensory organ of hearing. The cochlea converts the mechanical vibrations from the middle ear into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain.
Choice d reason:
The pinna, or auricle, is the visible part of the external ear. It is made of cartilage and skin and functions to capture sound waves and direct them into the ear canal towards the tympanic membrane.
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