Question

A nurse notes that the health care provider has documented a diagnosis of presbycusis on the client's chart. The nurse understands that this condition is accurately described as:

Option 1: Inflammation of the ear canal.
Option 2: Age-related hearing loss.
Option 3: Accumulation of earwax.
Option 4: Middle ear infection.

Answer 1

Presbycusis is accurately described as age-related hearing loss, which occurs due to the degeneration of hair cells in the organ of Corti, constituting sensorineural hearing loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse understands that the diagnosis of presbycusis recorded on the client's chart is accurately described as age-related hearing loss. Presbycusis refers to the gradual loss of hearing that occurs as individuals age and is characterized by the decline in the ability to hear higher frequencies. This condition is a type of sensorineural hearing loss which often results from the degeneration of hair cells in the organ of Corti within the inner ear.

Option 1: Inflammation of the ear canal, Option 3: Accumulation of earwax, and Option 4: Middle ear infection describe different conditions such as otitis externa, cerumen impaction, and acute otitis media, respectively, and are not accurate descriptions of presbycusis. The correct answer for the nurse would be Option 2: Age-related hearing loss.