The nurse checks the audiogram report of the patient with otitis media at 25 db. She explains the report to the patient as

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2022

Explanation

According to standard audiological classifications, a hearing threshold of 25 dB falls at the upper limit of the range for slight hearing loss (16-25 dB).
A person with this level of hearing loss can typically hear vowel sounds clearly but may have difficulty perceiving softer, unvoiced consonant sounds (like 's', 'f', or 'th').
In the context of otitis media, this finding represents a common and often temporary conductive hearing loss due to fluid in the middle ear.

Option A: Normal hearing is defined as having a hearing threshold between 0 and 15 dB. The patient's result of 25 dB is outside this range.
Option C: Mild hearing impairment is classified as a hearing loss between 26 and 40 dB. The patient's 25 dB result is just below this range.
Option D: Moderate hearing impairment represents a more significant loss, typically in the 41 to 55 dB range. A 25 dB loss is significantly less severe.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Interpretation of audiogram results and classification of hearing loss to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Accurate interpretation of audiogram results is a key nursing skill for patient education, planning interventions, and making appropriate referrals to specialists like audiologists or ENT surgeons.
For a patient with otitis media, the nurse can provide reassurance that the slight hearing loss is often temporary and should improve with treatment of the underlying infection.
It is important for the nurse to advise the patient to protect their hearing from loud noises, as even a slight loss can be exacerbated by noise-induced damage.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key clinical value provided in the question stem: the audiogram result is 25 dB.
Second, recall the standard classification system for hearing loss severity based on decibel (dB) levels.
Third, locate the given value (25 dB) within these classification ranges. Note that 25 dB is the upper boundary of the 'slight' hearing loss category (16-25 dB).
Fourth, select the option that matches this classification.
Finally, eliminate the other options by confirming they correspond to different dB ranges: Normal (0-15 dB), Mild (26-40 dB), and Moderate (41-55 dB).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Interpretation of audiogram results and classification of hearing loss.
Stem keywords: audiogram report, otitis media, 25 db
Lead-in keywords: explains the report
Clinical cues: Patient with otitis media, which often causes temporary conductive hearing loss.
Clinical cues: Audiogram result of 25 dB, which is a specific value on the hearing loss scale.

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 1796-1798

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