EDAU 170 Quiz 2 - study guide

1. Know the frequency range typically used when testing hearing thresholds in a clinical, sound treated environment (audiology booth).

250-8000 Hz

2. Before audiometers were invented, what did people do to test hearing?

Tests: tuning fork test and whisper test (additionally compared and asked patient).

3. Audiometric “threshold" is defined as the faintest level at which a patient will respond consistently for at least what percentage?  How many responses (how many responses out of how many presentations) do we typically accept as threshold?

50 percent of the time; 2 out of 3 stimulus

4. Does air conduction testing or bone conduction testing help us determine the type of hearing loss?

Bone conduction tests type of hearing loss 

5. Does air conduction testing or bone conduction testing help us determine the degree of hearing loss?

Air conduction tests degree of hearing loss 

6. There are several ways to determine thresholds (threshold measurement procedures). In class, we discussed how we start the threshold search and that it should be loud enough (~40 dB) so the individual knows what to listen for. Which frequency is commonly used to begin the audiogram?  

Start at 1000 Hz for frequency at 40 dB (adults)

7. Should the person having their hearing test have access to visual cues (e.g. see the tester) to let them know when you are presenting the sound?  Why or why not?

No, because the client could take a guess based on the audiologist’s facial expressions or cues. 

8. Know the “Down 10, up 5” approach to finding threshold.  What are the answers to the questions below, when finding the threshold using this method we discussed in class?

   1. Individual being tested responds at 30 dB, what is your next presentation level? Decrease to 10 dB 

   2. Individual being tested doesn’t respond at 30 dB, what is your next presentation level? Increase to 5 dB

   3. Individual being tested responds at 20 dB, what is your next presentation level? Decrease to 10 dB

9. When is it necessary to test the inter-octave or half octave (e.g. 3000 Hz)?

If there is a threshold difference of 20 dB between octaves, then test it at 3000 Hz.

10. Know the symbols for the following on an audiogram: 

    1. Right and left ears air conduction unmasked: O & X

    2. Right and left ears air conduction masked: △ &  ⃞

    3. Right and left ears bone conduction unmasked: < & >

    4. Right and left ears bone conduction masked: [ & ]

11. Where is the ideal placement for the bone oscillator?

Ideally, on the mastoid. If there are any challenges, on the forehead. 

12. When the air conduction thresholds indicate hearing loss, but the bone conduction thresholds are within normal limits, what type of hearing loss do we have?

Conductive hearing loss

13. When the air conduction thresholds indicate hearing loss, and we obtain the bone conduction thresholds at the same dB levels as our air conduction thresholds, what type of hearing loss do we have?

Sensorineural hearing loss

14. What are the interaural attenuations (IA) of each of the 3 typical transducers (headphone, insert earphones, and bone oscillator)?

IA for headphones 40 dB; earphones 55 dB; bone oscillator 0 dB

15. If we have a air conduction threshold (using headphones) in the right ear of 10 dB at 1000Hz, then we go to test the left ear and need to raise the volume to 60 dB at 1000Hz to get a response, do we need to mask the right ear to obtain the true threhsold for the left ear?

Yes, mask since there is a gap of 40 dB for air conduction.