A patient has been identified as having a sensorineural hearing loss. What would be important for the nurse to do during the assessment of this patient?

A) Speak loudly so the patient can hear the questions.
B) Assess for middle ear infection as a possible cause.
C) Ask the patient what medications he is currently taking.
D) Look for the source of the obstruction in the external ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss may be caused by presbycusis, which is a gradual nerve degeneration that occurs with aging and by ototoxic drugs, which affect the hair cells in the cochlea. So the nurse should ask the patients about the medications they have been taking. A simple increase in amplitude may not enable the person to understand spoken words. The middle ear and obstruction of the external ear are not associated with sensorineural hearing loss so the nurse should not assess for a middle ear infection or external ear obstruction.