Question

A medical assistant is obtaining information for a patients medical history and physical examination. The patient reports intermittent episodes of ringing in his ears. Which of the following terms should the assistant use when documenting this finding in the patients medical record?

1) Tinnitus
2) Otalgia
3) Vertigo
4) Presbycusis

Answer 1

The assistant should document the patient's intermittent episodes of ringing in the ears as 'tinnitus'. Tinnitus is the perception of noise when no external sound is present, distinguishing it from other ear-related terms such as otalgia (ear pain) and vertigo (sensation of spinning).

Step-by-step explanation:

The medical assistant should use the term tinnitus when documenting the patient's medical history of intermittent episodes of ringing in the ears. Tinnitus is characterized by hearing ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in one or both ears when no external sound is present. It's a common condition that can be a symptom of various underlying causes, including Ménière's disease, which can also lead to vertigo and hearing loss.

By contrast, otalgia refers to ear pain, vertigo to a sensation of spinning or dizziness, and presbycusis to age-related hearing loss. Therefore, the correct term in this context is tinnitus.