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

A. Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, and while it can affect hearing, it is not typically assessed using a tuning fork. Tuning forks are more useful for evaluating conductive hearing loss or bone conduction. B. A tuning fork is generally not used to assess neurological pathology directly. Neurological conditions often require other diagnostic tools or tests to evaluate nerve function or reflexes. C. Tinnitus is the perception of ringing in the ears and is usually assessed through patient reporting and audiometric testing. A tuning fork is not used to diagnose tinnitus, but it may be used to test hearing acuity. D. A tuning fork is commonly used to assess for hearing loss, specifically conductive hearing loss. The fork helps test the function of bone and air conduction, which are important for determining the type of hearing impairment.