In which hearing test is one ear tested at a time while the non-tested ear is occluded?

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Explanation

The Whisper test is a basic screening tool used to assess gross hearing ability.
A key part of the procedure is testing one ear at a time.
To isolate the ear being tested, the non-tested ear is occluded, typically by having the patient press on their tragus or cover the ear with their hand.
The examiner then whispers from a short distance (1-2 feet), and the patient's ability to repeat the words indicates their level of hearing acuity in that ear.

Option B: The Weber test does not involve occluding an ear. It assesses both ears simultaneously by placing a tuning fork on the midline of the skull to check for sound lateralization.
Option C: The Rinne test does not involve occluding the non-tested ear. It compares air and bone conduction for a single ear.
Option D: While audiometry tests ears individually, it uses electronic 'masking' noise delivered via headphones to the non-test ear, not simple manual occlusion. The question's phrasing points to a simpler, bedside screening test.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Assessment of hearing acuity as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The Whisper test is a valuable, quick, and cost-effective screening tool that nurses can perform in any clinical setting to identify patients who may need a referral for formal audiological testing.
Early detection of hearing loss is critical for patient safety, as impaired hearing can affect communication, increase the risk of falls, and lead to social isolation.
What if? If a patient fails the Whisper test in one ear, the next step is not to repeat the test loudly, but to perform the Weber and Rinne tests to begin differentiating between conductive and sensorineural loss, and to refer the patient to an audiologist.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key actions described in the question stem: 'one ear tested at a time' and 'non-tested ear is occluded'.
Review the procedure for each of the four options provided.
The Whisper test procedure explicitly involves covering or 'occluding' the ear not being tested to isolate the test ear.
The Weber test assesses both ears at once from a central point on the head.
The Rinne test focuses on one ear but does not require occlusion of the other.
Audiometry is a formal lab test that uses electronic masking, which is different from the simple manual occlusion implied.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QEamVkFQ102B6vQvMmkRYU

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 1 p. 59-61

E6 Medicine Macleod Clinical Examination 15e p. 206-208

Practise the full UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.