Question

A patient asks what can be done to stop the "noises" in the ears. What question does the

nurse ask to determine if the patient is experiencing tinnitus?
A. "What does the noise sound like?"
B. "How often do the noises occur?"
C. "What are the noises saying to you?"
D. "Do the noises occur mostly at night?"

Answer 1

The question "What does the noise sound like?" is best to determine if a patient experiences tinnitus, a condition marked by hearing noises like ringing or buzzing that are not caused by an external source.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if a patient is experiencing tinnitus, the most appropriate question a nurse should ask is: "What does the noise sound like?" This question helps to differentiate between various types of auditory hallucinations and the characteristic sounds associated with tinnitus, such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing. In the case of tinnitus, the noises are not external auditory stimuli but perceptions within the ear or head. When counseling a patient on potential treatments for tinnitus, options may include using white noise machines, hearing aids, or even considering a cochlear implant if the tinnitus is associated with sensorineural hearing loss, like that seen in Ménière's disease, which also can cause other symptoms such as vertigo and increased inner ear pressure.