Ear and audiology: salicylate ototoxicity: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: salicylate ototoxicity

Sample item

A 60-year-old woman on high-dose aspirin for arthritis develops bilateral tinnitus and a flat mild sensorineural loss on audiometry within a week. Her drums are normal. What is the most appropriate step?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Reduce or stop the aspirin and repeat audiometry

Salicylate ototoxicity is dose related and usually reversible within days of stopping the drug. Both ears are affected with tinnitus and a flat loss. Permanent measures are not needed.

Option by option

  • A. Reduce or stop the aspirin and repeat audiometry (correct)

    Correct. Salicylate loss and tinnitus are reversible on stopping or reducing the drug.

  • B. Fit bilateral hearing aids permanently

    Permanent aids are unnecessary when the loss is expected to recover after withdrawal.

  • C. Refer for cochlear implantation

    Implantation is for bilateral profound loss that aids cannot help, not a mild reversible loss.

  • D. Start intratympanic gentamicin

    Intratympanic gentamicin deliberately destroys vestibular function in Meniere disease and would worsen the problem.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Reduce or stop the aspirin and repeat audiometry. Salicylate ototoxicity is dose related and usually reversible within days of stopping the drug.

Why is "Fit bilateral hearing aids permanently" not the answer?

Permanent aids are unnecessary when the loss is expected to recover after withdrawal.

Why is "Refer for cochlear implantation" not the answer?

Implantation is for bilateral profound loss that aids cannot help, not a mild reversible loss.

Why is "Start intratympanic gentamicin" not the answer?

Intratympanic gentamicin deliberately destroys vestibular function in Meniere disease and would worsen the problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: salicylate ototoxicity in ENT. Both ears are affected with tinnitus and a flat loss. Permanent measures are not needed.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: salicylate ototoxicity?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.