When conducting a physical examination, the nurse uses a tuning fork to assess for which condition?

A. Neurological pathology. While some neurological conditions can affect hearing, a tuning fork is primarily used to assess auditory function rather than broader neurological disorders. Neurological assessments typically involve reflex testing, sensory evaluations, and motor function tests. B. Tinnitus. Tinnitus refers to the perception of ringing or buzzing in the ears, but it is a subjective symptom that cannot be directly assessed using a tuning fork. Diagnosis of tinnitus relies on patient reports and audiometric evaluations rather than tuning fork tests. C. Otitis media. Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear, which may cause hearing difficulties, but it is diagnosed primarily through otoscopic examination rather than tuning fork testing. D. Hearing loss. A tuning fork is commonly used in the Weber and Rinne tests to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. These tests help determine whether hearing impairment is due to middle ear dysfunction (conductive) or inner ear/nerve damage (sensorineural).