National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) MCQs With Answer

Introduction

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) is India’s public health initiative focusing on deafness prevention, early detection, management, and rehabilitation. Designed to reduce the burden of hearing loss, NPPCD integrates community screening, ear care services, referral systems, hearing aid provision, and capacity building for healthcare workers. Key topics for B. Pharm students include ototoxicity of drugs, pharmacovigilance, counseling on antibiotic and chemotherapeutic risks, hearing screening tools, and medicines used in ENT infections. Understanding NPPCD helps pharmacists contribute to rational drug use, patient education, and multidisciplinary ear care. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary goal of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD)?

• To provide only hearing aids to adults
• To reduce the burden of hearing loss through prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation
• To ban noisy industries across the country
• To focus exclusively on surgical interventions for deafness

Correct Answer: To reduce the burden of hearing loss through prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation

Q2. Which component is NOT typically part of NPPCD activities?

• Community-based screening and awareness
• Provision of hearing aids and rehabilitation
• Training of health personnel in ear care
• Distribution of unregulated ototoxic drugs without monitoring

Correct Answer: Distribution of unregulated ototoxic drugs without monitoring

Q3. Which test is commonly used for newborn hearing screening under public health programmes?

• Pure tone audiometry only
• Tympanometry in isolation
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening
• Visual acuity test

Correct Answer: Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening

Q4. As B.Pharm students, why is knowledge of ototoxic drugs important in NPPCD context?

• Pharmacists may counsel on risk, monitor use, and suggest alternatives to prevent hearing loss
• Pharmacists only dispense and have no role in preventing ototoxicity
• Ototoxic drugs are never used in clinical practice
• Ototoxicity is only genetic and unrelated to drugs

Correct Answer: Pharmacists may counsel on risk, monitor use, and suggest alternatives to prevent hearing loss

Q5. Which of the following drugs is classically associated with permanent ototoxicity?

• Amoxicillin
• Gentamicin (an aminoglycoside)
• Ibuprofen
• Paracetamol

Correct Answer: Gentamicin (an aminoglycoside)

Q6. Which monitoring strategy helps reduce aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity?

• Therapeutic drug monitoring and dose adjustment
• Using maximum possible dose without monitoring
• Giving aminoglycosides with loop diuretics routinely
• Avoiding any blood tests during therapy

Correct Answer: Therapeutic drug monitoring and dose adjustment

Q7. Which chemotherapy agent is well-known for causing ototoxicity?

• Cisplatin
• Metformin
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Atorvastatin

Correct Answer: Cisplatin

Q8. Under NPPCD, which public health intervention helps prevent ear-related hearing loss from infections?

• Promoting measles and rubella vaccination
• Limiting water intake
• Reducing vitamin intake
• Encouraging smoking in adults

Correct Answer: Promoting measles and rubella vaccination

Q9. Which hearing loss is most likely reversible with medical treatment?

• Sensorineural hearing loss due to hair cell death
• Conductive hearing loss due to impacted cerumen
• Cochlear nerve aplasia
• Permanent drug-induced hair cell loss

Correct Answer: Conductive hearing loss due to impacted cerumen

Q10. What role can pharmacists play in NPPCD at primary health care level?

• Only supply drugs without patient interaction
• Provide counseling on ototoxic risks, advise on ear care, and refer suspected cases
• Perform surgical ear procedures
• Perform audiometric testing independently

Correct Answer: Provide counseling on ototoxic risks, advise on ear care, and refer suspected cases

Q11. Which is an early symptom of ototoxicity a pharmacist should warn patients about?

• Sudden bright visual flashes
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and balance disturbances
• Chest pain
• Excessive salivation

Correct Answer: Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and balance disturbances

Q12. Which of these is a priority activity for NPPCD to address childhood hearing loss?

• Late adult cochlear implantation only
• Early detection through screening, immunization, and timely treatment of ear infections
• Discouraging school-based hearing checks
• Promoting self-medication for ear pain

Correct Answer: Early detection through screening, immunization, and timely treatment of ear infections

Q13. Which diagnostic tool assesses middle ear function and eardrum mobility?

• Pure tone audiometry
• Tympanometry
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Electrocardiogram

Correct Answer: Tympanometry

Q14. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is important in NPPCD because it:

• Never causes hearing loss
• Is a major preventable cause of persistent hearing impairment in children and adults
• Only occurs after age 60
• Is unrelated to hygiene or infections

Correct Answer: Is a major preventable cause of persistent hearing impairment in children and adults

Q15. Which intervention is part of rehabilitation services promoted by NPPCD?

• Provision of hearing aids and training in their use
• Mandatory bed rest for all hearing-impaired persons
• Prohibiting special education
• Only providing surgical options

Correct Answer: Provision of hearing aids and training in their use

Q16. Noise-induced hearing loss prevention under NPPCD includes:

• Educating on use of personal protective equipment and noise controls
• Promoting loud music at high volumes
• Removing warnings about occupational noise
• Discouraging hearing conservation programs

Correct Answer: Educating on use of personal protective equipment and noise controls

Q17. A pharmacist counsels a patient on loop diuretic therapy. Which advice is relevant to prevent hearing issues?

• There is no need to monitor auditory symptoms with loop diuretics
• Report sudden hearing changes or balance problems; avoid combining with other ototoxic agents
• Always combine loop diuretics with aminoglycosides
• Reduce fluid intake to avoid ototoxicity

Correct Answer: Report sudden hearing changes or balance problems; avoid combining with other ototoxic agents

Q18. Which data activity supports NPPCD monitoring and evaluation?

• Ignoring case reporting from peripheral centers
• Routine collection of screening, referral, treatment and outcome data
• Collecting only financial records
• Only international data without local inputs

Correct Answer: Routine collection of screening, referral, treatment and outcome data

Q19. Which of the following is a pharmacovigilance action relevant to NPPCD?

• Documenting and reporting suspected drug-induced hearing loss
• Never reporting adverse auditory events
• Assuming all hearing loss is genetic and cannot be drug-related
• Removing adverse event reporting from pharmacy practice

Correct Answer: Documenting and reporting suspected drug-induced hearing loss

Q20. Which audiological service is most appropriate for assessing degree and type of hearing loss in cooperative children and adults?

• Pure tone audiometry
• Blood sugar estimation
• Chest X-ray
• Urine analysis

Correct Answer: Pure tone audiometry

Q21. Which counseling point should a pharmacist give to a patient receiving cisplatin?

• There are no potential auditory side effects
• Inform your oncology team immediately if you notice hearing loss or ringing; monitoring may be needed
• Stop all supportive medications immediately
• Hearing changes only occur decades later and can be ignored

Correct Answer: Inform your oncology team immediately if you notice hearing loss or ringing; monitoring may be needed

Q22. Which population is prioritized for hearing screening in NPPCD?

• Only senior citizens above 85 years
• Newborns, preschool and school-age children, high-risk adults and elderly
• Only professional musicians
• Only people with no access to healthcare

Correct Answer: Newborns, preschool and school-age children, high-risk adults and elderly

Q23. Which factor increases risk of ototoxicity when multiple ototoxic agents are used?

• Using lower cumulative doses
• Concurrent administration of aminoglycosides and loop diuretics or cisplatin
• Spacing drug doses appropriately
• Ensuring good hydration

Correct Answer: Concurrent administration of aminoglycosides and loop diuretics or cisplatin

Q24. In community ear care, what simple measure can reduce childhood ear infections contributing to hearing loss?

• Promoting exclusive breastfeeding and timeliness of immunization
• Discouraging hygiene practices
• Promoting smoking in the household
• Delaying immunizations indefinitely

Correct Answer: Promoting exclusive breastfeeding and timeliness of immunization

Q25. Which type of hearing aid is often recommended for children in public health programmes?

• Custom high-end behind-the-ear with tamper-proof battery and appropriate amplification
• Completely implantable experimental devices only
• No amplification at all
• Only cosmetic ear molds without amplification

Correct Answer: Custom high-end behind-the-ear with tamper-proof battery and appropriate amplification

Q26. For pharmacists, which statement about topical ear preparations is correct?

• Topical antibiotics are always safe for perforated eardrums
• Some topical agents are ototoxic if used in a perforated tympanic membrane and require caution
• Any antibiotic ear drops can be used without diagnosis
• Ear drops can replace systemic therapy in all infections

Correct Answer: Some topical agents are ototoxic if used in a perforated tympanic membrane and require caution

Q27. Which referral is appropriate when screening identifies suspected severe sensorineural hearing loss?

• Refer to ENT/audiology for diagnostic evaluation and rehabilitation planning
• Advise home remedies only
• Delay referral for several years
• Refer to dermatology

Correct Answer: Refer to ENT/audiology for diagnostic evaluation and rehabilitation planning

Q28. Which public health message supports NPPCD goals related to noise exposure?

• Use ear protection in noisy workplaces and limit recreational loud sound exposure
• Ignore occupational noise regulations
• Encourage prolonged exposure to loud entertainment venues
• Noise exposure has no impact on hearing

Correct Answer: Use ear protection in noisy workplaces and limit recreational loud sound exposure

Q29. In NPPCD, capacity building refers to:

• Training health workers, audiologists and community volunteers in ear care and screening
• Only importing equipment without training
• Focusing solely on infrastructure without human resources
• Avoiding any professional development

Correct Answer: Training health workers, audiologists and community volunteers in ear care and screening

Q30. Which activity should pharmacists undertake to support NPPCD’s prevention goals?

• Provide accurate information on ototoxicity, ensure safe dispensing, and promote adherence to vaccination and treatment plans
• Refuse to counsel patients on ear health
• Sell ototoxic drugs without warnings
• Discourage immunization as irrelevant to hearing

Correct Answer: Provide accurate information on ototoxicity, ensure safe dispensing, and promote adherence to vaccination and treatment plans

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