What does it indicate if a nurse hears the word "ninety-nine" clearly while assessing vocal resonance?

When a nurse assesses vocal resonance and hears the word "ninety-nine" clearly, it is indicative of normal bronchophony. Normal bronchophony occurs when spoken voice sounds are transmitted clearly through the lung fields, which is typically a sign that the lung tissues are healthy and that there is no fluid or consolidation that would distort sound transmission.

When the spoken word is clearly discernible, as this case suggests, it shows that the lung area is likely unobstructed and free from conditions like pneumonia or fluid accumulation that can cause dull or muffled sounds—a correlation with normal exam findings. Therefore, hearing “ninety-nine” clearly supports the conclusion of normal bronchophony and suggests that the lungs are functioning well at that segment.

The importance of this assessment lies in its ability to detect changes in lung health that can lead to early intervention if necessary. The assessment should consistently align with normal expected results to reinforce the absence of respiratory pathology.