A 47-year-old male client has come in to his primary health care provi

A 47-year-old male client has come in to his primary health care provider’s office for his annual checkup.

The client shares with the nurse that his wife thinks he is suffering from hearing loss. Which of the following responses by the nurse would be most appropriate?
1. “You are approaching an age when it is common to start having some hearing loss.”
2. “Do you work in a noisy environment?”
3. “You don’t seem to have hearing problems to me.”
4. “Has anyone else noticed that you are having hearing problems?”

ANSWER

ANS: 2
In the case of sensory alterations you need to integrate knowledge of the pathophysiology of sensory deficits, factors that affect sensory function, and therapeutic communication principles. A person’s occupation places him or her at risk for hearing, visual, and peripheral nerve altera-tions. Individuals who have occupations involving exposure to high noise levels (e.g., factory or airport workers) are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss and need to be screened for hearing impairments. Hazardous noise is common in work settings as well as recreational activities. Be careful to not automatically assume that a client’s sensory problem is related to advancing age. For example, adult sensorineural hearing loss is often due to exposure to excess and prolonged noise or metabolic, vascular, and other systemic alterations. Collect a history that also assesses the client’s current sensory status and the degree to which a sensory deficit affects the client’s life-style, psychosocial adjustment, developmental status, self-care ability, health promotion habits, and safety.