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    ATI Adult Health Assessment Final Proctored Exam

    A patient came with a right ear sensorineural hearing loss. What should the nurse expect while performing the Weber test?

    Explanation & Rationale

    A) Lateralization of the sound/vibration to both ears equally: The Weber test is used to assess unilateral hearing loss and would not show equal lateralization in the presence of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Equal lateralization would suggest normal hearing or symmetrical hearing loss, which is not the case here. B) Lateralization of the sound/vibration to the left ear: In sensorineural hearing loss, sound is perceived to lateralize to the unaffected ear. Therefore, with right ear sensorineural hearing loss, the sound will lateralize to the left ear, indicating that the left ear has better hearing capability. C) Bone conduction (BC) is greater than air conduction (AC): This finding is characteristic of conductive hearing loss, not sensorineural hearing loss. In sensorineural hearing loss, air conduction is typically greater than or equal to bone conduction, but the Weber test focuses on lateralization rather than BC versus AC. D) Lateralization of the sound/vibration to the right ear: If the sound were to lateralize to the affected ear in sensorineural hearing loss, it would suggest that the affected ear is hearing better, which contradicts the nature of sensorineural hearing loss. The sound will actually lateralize to the better-hearing, unaffected ear.

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