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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

NCLEX Ear Disorders Quiz: Test Your Meniere's Disease Expertise

Identify Ear Disorder Symptoms - Take the NCLEX Practice Test Now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art ear design for free NCLEX quiz on Menieres disease and other ear disorders callout on dark blue background

This Meniere's disease quiz helps you practice NCLEX ear disorder skills - pinpoint vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss patterns, plus safety risks and nursing care. Use it to check gaps before the exam, or keep going with our eye and ear disorders review for extra practice.

What are the three primary symptoms that define Meniere's disease?
Ear fullness, otalgia, conductive hearing loss
Episodic vertigo, tinnitus, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss
Chronic dizziness, hyperacusis, high-frequency hearing loss
Persistent tinnitus, vertigo, conductive hearing loss
Meniere's disease is characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss due to endolymphatic hydrops. The fluctuating nature of hearing loss helps distinguish it from other inner ear disorders. Vertigo attacks often last from 20 minutes to several hours, and tinnitus may precede or accompany these episodes.
Which part of the ear is primarily affected in Meniere's disease?
Inner ear (endolymphatic system)
Middle ear (ossicles)
Eustachian tube
External ear canal
Meniere's disease involves the inner ear, specifically the endolymphatic compartments of the cochlea and vestibular apparatus. Excess endolymph causes pressure changes that result in the classic symptom triad. Middle and external ear structures are not the primary sites of pathology in this condition.
What underlying pathophysiologic process is most closely associated with Meniere's disease?
Perilymphatic fistula
Vestibular neuritis
Otosclerosis
Endolymphatic hydrops
Endolymphatic hydrops, or an excess of fluid in the endolymphatic space, is the hallmark pathophysiology of Meniere's disease. The increased pressure distorts the membranous labyrinth and triggers episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing fluctuations. Other inner ear conditions do not produce this characteristic triad.
Which dietary modification is commonly recommended for patients with Meniere's disease?
High sodium intake
Low sodium intake
High-protein diet
Gluten-free diet
A low-sodium diet helps decrease fluid retention in the endolymphatic system and can reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes. Patients are often advised to limit sodium to less than 1,500 - 2,000 mg per day. This intervention is noninvasive and a first-line recommendation.
Which medication is considered first-line for acute vertigo attacks in Meniere's disease?
Meclizine
Furosemide
Spironolactone
Acetazolamide
Meclizine, an antihistamine, is commonly used to manage acute vertigo by reducing vestibular system overstimulation. It helps control nausea and dizziness during attacks. Benzodiazepines may be used secondarily but carry higher sedation risks.
Which diuretic is most often prescribed to control endolymphatic pressure in Meniere's disease?
Spironolactone
Furosemide
Mannitol
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrochlorothiazide is frequently used to reduce endolymphatic fluid volume and pressure, which can lessen vertigo episodes. It works by promoting renal excretion of sodium and water. Other diuretics may be considered if thiazides are contraindicated.
Which diagnostic maneuver helps differentiate benign paroxysmal positional vertigo from Meniere's disease?
Weber test
Rinne test
Romberg test
Dix - Hallpike maneuver
The Dix - Hallpike maneuver is used to provoke nystagmus in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by changing head position. A positive maneuver with brief vertigo and torsional nystagmus indicates BPPV rather than Meniere's disease. Meniere's vertigo attacks last longer and are not consistently positional.
Which test is most sensitive for detecting endolymphatic hydrops in suspected Meniere's disease?
Magnetic resonance imaging
Electrocochleography
Caloric testing
Pure-tone audiometry
Electrocochleography (ECoG) measures electrical potentials in the cochlea and auditory nerve, and is sensitive in detecting endolymphatic hydrops. Elevated summating potentials relative to action potentials suggest hydrops. Audiometry and caloric tests assess hearing and vestibular function but are less specific.
Which surgical procedure involves decompression of the endolymphatic sac for intractable Meniere's disease?
Stapedectomy
Endolymphatic sac decompression
Cochlear implantation
Transmastoid labyrinthectomy
Endolymphatic sac decompression relieves pressure in the endolymphatic system and preserves hearing in many patients. It involves removal of bone over the sac and may include shunt placement. Labyrinthectomy and vestibular nerve section are more destructive and reserved for severe cases.
What characteristic audiometric pattern is typically seen in early-stage Meniere's disease?
Low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss
Flat conductive hearing loss
High-frequency sensorineural hearing loss
Reverse slope audiogram
Early-stage Meniere's disease often demonstrates low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss due to distension of the basilar membrane by endolymphatic hydrops. As the disease progresses, hearing thresholds may involve broader frequencies. Conductive losses are not characteristic.
Which of the following is a contraindication for intratympanic steroid injection in Meniere's disease?
Stable sensorineural hearing loss
Well-healed tympanic membrane
Active middle ear infection
Previous vestibular nerve section
Intratympanic steroid injection requires an intact and infection-free middle ear to avoid spreading pathogens and causing further damage. Active otitis media is a clear contraindication. A well-healed membrane and stable hearing are prerequisites for safe delivery.
Which electrolyte imbalance should be monitored in patients taking thiazide diuretics for Meniere's disease?
Hypophosphatemia
Hypermagnesemia
Hypercalcemia
Hypokalemia
Thiazide diuretics increase renal potassium excretion, leading to hypokalemia, which can cause muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias. Regular monitoring of serum electrolytes and supplementation may be necessary. Other imbalances are less common with thiazides.
Before considering vestibular nerve section for refractory Meniere's disease, which pathology must be excluded due to overlapping vertigo symptoms?
Otosclerosis
Glomus jugulare tumor
Vestibular schwannoma
Cholesteatoma
Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) presents with unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and imbalance, mimicking Meniere's disease. MRI is used to rule it out before destructive surgery on the vestibular nerve. Accurate diagnosis prevents unnecessary nerve section and addresses tumor therapy.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Meniere's Disease Symptoms -

    Recognize the hallmark manifestations of Meniere's disease, including episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss, to strengthen diagnostic accuracy.

  2. Differentiate Inner Ear Disorders -

    Analyze distinguishing features of various ear conditions such as otitis media, BPPV, and vestibular neuritis to accurately identify Meniere's disease in clinical scenarios.

  3. Identify Nursing Interventions -

    Recall evidence-based treatment protocols and nursing care strategies for managing Meniere's disease and related ear disorders in patient care settings.

  4. Apply NCLEX-Style Reasoning -

    Solve realistic, scenario-based questions to enhance your critical thinking and test-taking skills for the ear disorders NCLEX practice test.

  5. Boost Exam Confidence -

    Evaluate your knowledge gaps with immediate feedback, enabling targeted review and improved performance on ear disorder sections of the NCLEX.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Endolymphatic Hydrops Pathophysiology -

    Review the buildup of endolymph in the scala media as the root cause of Meniere's disease, often referenced on Mayo Clinic and NIH resources. Remember the term "hydrops" means fluid excess, which disrupts cochlear and vestibular function and leads to acute episodes. This helps you ace the "do I have Meniere's disease quiz" by grounding your understanding in key anatomy.

  2. Classic Symptom Triad (Vertigo, Tinnitus, Hearing Loss) -

    Use the mnemonic "TV H" to recall that Meniere's disease features Tinnitus, Vertigo, and progressive Hearing loss in the affected ear. Vertigo attacks last 20 minutes to several hours, distinguishing them from brief episodes in BPPV - an important point in your inner ear disorder identification quiz. Recognizing these core symptoms quickly boosts your confidence for any ear disorders NCLEX practice test.

  3. Differential Diagnosis Tips -

    Differentiate Meniere's disease from BPPV and labyrinthitis by focusing on attack duration, positional triggers, and hearing changes, as outlined in authoritative ENT journals. BPPV causes brief, position-induced vertigo, while Meniere's features spontaneous, prolonged episodes with fluctuating hearing loss. These distinctions are gold in your identify ear disorder symptoms strategies and NCLEX-style scenarios.

  4. Key Diagnostic Tests -

    Familiarize yourself with pure-tone audiometry showing low-frequency hearing loss, electronystagmography (ENG) for vestibular function, and the Glycerol Test's temporary hearing improvement. MRI is used to rule out acoustic neuroma, per American Academy of Otolaryngology guidelines. Knowing when to order each test is crucial for performing well on the "do I have Meniere's disease quiz" and similar assessments.

  5. Treatment and Management Strategies -

    Adopt a low-sodium diet and diuretic regimen to reduce endolymphatic pressure and recommend vestibular rehabilitation exercises for symptom relief, following NIH and Mayo Clinic protocols. In refractory cases, review surgical options such as endolymphatic sac decompression or vestibular nerve section. These management plans are common scenarios in ear disorders NCLEX practice test questions.

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