A nurse is completing a full assessment for their client on a telemetry unit. During the eye exam, a nurse shines a light into one of the client's eyes and the pupil of the other eye constricts. What is the most appropriate description of this finding?

Choice A reason: Heel-to-shin tests cerebellar coordination, not balance like Romberg’s. It assesses motor precision, not proprioception or vestibular function, which Romberg’s targets by checking sway with eyes closed, making this technique irrelevant to the intended assessment here.

Choice B reason: Walking on heels and toes evaluates motor strength and coordination, not stationary balance. Romberg’s tests proprioceptive stability, not gait, missing the core focus on vestibular and sensory integration critical to this neurological balance assessment fully.

Choice C reason: Romberg’s test assesses balance by having the client stand, feet together, eyes open then closed for 20 seconds. Sway with eyes closed indicates proprioceptive or vestibular issues, making this the precise, standard technique for this evaluation accurately.

Choice D reason: Finger-to-thumb tests fine motor skills and coordination, not balance. Romberg’s focuses on postural stability via sensory input, not hand dexterity, rendering this action unrelated to assessing the client’s equilibrium as intended in this context completely.

Choice A reason: Speaking very slowly distorts speech, worsening comprehension in presbycusis, an age-related high-frequency hearing loss. Facing the client aids lip-reading, but excessive slowness disrupts natural cadence, reducing clarity for those with sensorineural deficits typically seen here.

Choice B reason: Speaking directly, slightly slower, in a clear voice enhances understanding in presbycusis. Facing the client supports visual cues, while normal volume avoids distortion, addressing high-frequency loss effectively without assuming blockage or overcompensating unnecessarily for this condition.

Choice C reason: Presbycusis is sensorineural, not conductive from blockages like cerumen. Preparing to remove nonexistent wax misdiagnoses this age-related cochlear degeneration, wasting time and missing the communication adjustments needed for effective care in this scenario entirely.

Choice D reason: Raising the voice distorts sound, worsening presbycusis comprehension, as shouting amplifies lower frequencies, not the lost high ones. Assuming a “good ear” ignores bilateral degeneration, making this less effective than clear, direct speech for communication here.