A nurse has been caring for an 83-year-old resident of a nursing home for 2 years and has developed a high level of trust with the resident. Which of the following recent changes in the resident's behavior may signal the possibility of hearing loss?
A) The resident's statements occasionally suggest that he is not oriented to time.
B) The resident had a recent episode where he became visibly angry at a nursing assistant.
C) The resident's attention span is short and he is easily distracted.
D) The resident has become increasingly disagreeable and terse in his demeanor.
Ans: C
Short attention span and easy distractibility are indicators of hearing loss. Aggression and agitation more often suggest alternative etiologies, such as neurologic health problems.
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