Cranial Nerves Assessment
Cranial Nerve VII: Facial
Only the motor portion of the facial nerve is tested. Taste on the anterior portion of the tongue is tested with cranial nerve IX. The nurse asks the client to frown, smile puff out cheeks looking for symmetry.
Cranial Nerve VIII: Vestibulocochlear (Acoustic)
Hearing is tested initially with the client’s eyes closed. The nurse rubs a thumb and finger together next to the client’s ear and asks where sound is heard. The nurse then repeats this maneuver for the other ear. The nurse may use the Weber and Rinne tests (with the client’s eyes open) to check for conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is caused by external-ear and middle-ear problems, such as excessive cerumen , presence of pus, ossicle fusion, or a damaged eardrum. Sensorineural hearing loss is due to cochlear or nerve damage.