Question

The nurse is talking to a family member of a hearing-impaired patient and the patient states, "I know you are talking about me. You are just whispering so that I will not hear what you are saying." What does the nurse recognize this statement indicates

Answer 1

Answer: the patient has hearing impairment

Explanation: from the statement above the nurse might have not known the patient had hearing impairment, but from the ensuing conversation with the family member and the patient statement the nurse can draw conclusions that the patient has hearing impairment.

Because the patient thinks she is whispering when in actual fact she is having a conversation that is well audible to the family member.

Answer 2

Answer:

The nurse should recognize that the statement indicates the patient has a hearing difficulty.

Explanation:

Some of the symptoms of hearing loss include:

• Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly

• Trouble hearing consonants

• Muffling of speech and other sounds
• Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd .

The nurse should be able to recognize that the fact that her normal voice tone is sounding muffled or low to the patient, indicates that the patient is having hearing difficulties.