The nurse is performing an assessment on a 29-year-old woman who visits the clinic reporting "always dropping things and falling down." While testing rapid alternating movements, the nurse notices that the woman is unable to pat both of her knees. Her response is extremely slow and she frequently misses. What should the nurse suspect?

A) Lesion of CN IX
B) Vestibular disease
C) Dysfunction of the cerebellum
D) Inability to understand directions

The symptoms this patient has been experiencing indicate dysfunction of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is concerned with motor coordination of voluntary movements, equilibrium, and muscle tone. When a person tries to perform rapid, alternating movements, responses that are slow, clumsy, and sloppy are indicative of cerebellar disease. Vestibular disease causes problems with balance and vertigo. Lesions of CN IX cause problems swallowing or gagging. Inability to understand directions would be r/t a problem in Wernicke's area in the brain and is not associated with dropping things or falling down.