Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

Which finding would NOT typically be noted in a geriatric patient?

1. Low frequency hearing loss

2. Bright purple-colored patches on the skin

3. Thinner skin layers

4. Opaque corneal ring

The correct answer is: Low frequency hearing loss

Low frequency hearing loss is a common auditory change that older adults experience, often due to natural age-related changes in the inner ear structures. This type of hearing loss typically affects the ability to hear lower frequency sounds, which makes it a frequent finding in geriatric patients. On the other hand, bright purple-colored patches on the skin, known as senile purpura, can be associated with aging due to fragile blood vessels and thinner skin. Thinner skin layers are indeed a characteristic of aging as well, resulting in increased susceptibility to injury. An opaque corneal ring can refer to changes in the eye associated with aging, such as a corneal arcus, which is commonly observed in older adults. By understanding the normal aging processes and expected findings in the geriatric population, one can recognize why low frequency hearing loss is not an atypical finding, contrasting with the other options that are more closely associated with geriatric physiology.