Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Hearing and Balance Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Hearing and Balance Disorders related questions and content

An advanced practice nurse has performed a Rinne test on a new patient. During the test, the patient reports that air-conducted sound is louder than bone-conducted sound. How should the nurse best interpret this assessment finding?

  • A. The patients hearing is likely normal.
  • B. The patient is at risk for tinnitus.
  • C. The patient likely has otosclerosis.
  • D. The patient likely has sensorineural hearing loss.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A Rinne test showing louder air-conducted sound indicates normal hearing or sensorineural loss, but in context, normal hearing is most likely. Tinnitus and otosclerosis are not directly assessed by this test.