How to interview a patient with hearing loss
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear is an emergency and needs treatment within days.
Step by step
Introduce yourself and face the patient
Speak clearly, face them, reduce background noise. [1]
One ear or both
Which side, and how they noticed. [2]
Sudden or gradual
Sudden loss over hours to days needs urgent referral. [3]
Associated symptoms
Ringing, dizziness, ear pain, discharge, fullness. [2]
Causes
Noise exposure, ear infections, head injury, wax, family history. [3]
Medicines
Aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, high-dose aspirin, chemotherapy. [3]
Summarize and plan
Explain the exam and hearing tests. [1]
Common errors
- Treating sudden loss as wax.
- Not asking about medicines.
- Talking with your back to the patient.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.