A 70-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed that he ...

[ss2343]

A 70-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed that he is having trouble hearing, especially in large groups. He says that he can't always tell where the sound is coming from and the words often sound mixed up. What might the nurse suspect
 
  as the cause for this change?
  a.
  Atrophy of the apocrine glands
  b.
  Cilia becoming coarse and stiff
  c.
  Nerve degeneration in the inner ear
  d.
  Scarring of the tympanic membrane

Question 2

A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed a progressive loss in his hearing. He says that it does seem to help when people speak louder or if he turns up the volume of a television or radio. The most likely cause of his hearing loss is:
 
  a. Otosclerosis.
  b. Presbycusis.
  c. Trauma to the bones.
  d. Frequent ear infections.

[Jmfn03]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs in 60 of those older than 65 years of age, even in those living in a quiet environment. This sensorineural loss is gradual and caused by nerve degeneration in the inner ear. Words sound garbled, and the ability to localize sound is also impaired. This communication dysfunction is accentuated when background noise is present.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Otosclerosis is a common cause of conductive hearing loss in young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Presbycusis is a type of hearing loss that occurs with aging. Trauma and frequent ear infections are not a likely cause of his hearing loss.