Audiology - Testing

Question 1

What information should be included when taking a case history regarding hearing?

Answer 1

Background details (for child inc pre- and peri-natal)

Family history of hearing

Hearing difficulties experienced

Audiological history

Educational history

Occupational history

Question 2

What are the two classifications of hearing tests?

Answer 2

Subjective or objective

Question 3

What is meant by a subjective hearing test?

Answer 3

A test which measures perception of an auditory stimulus

Question 4

What is meant by an objective hearing test?

Answer 4

A direct hearing test which measures physiological response to auditory stimuli

Question 5

How can you ensure the reliability of hearing tests?

Answer 5

Follow the British Society of Audiology recommendations, use specialised calibrated equipment, minimise background noise

Question 6

What is the most frequent way of representing human hearing levels?

Answer 6

A pure tone audiogram

Question 7

What does a pure tone audiogram plot?

Answer 7

Intensity vs frequency

Question 8

What is ‘Audiometry’?

Answer 8

The testing of a person’s ability to hear various sound frequencies

Question 9

What are the two purposes of hearing tests?

Answer 9

To SCREEN for a hearing problem and to DIAGNOSE (describe) the hearing impairment

Question 10

What are the aims of hearing test screeners?

Answer 10

To identify hearing impairment quickly, cheaply and accurately

Question 11

What are the aims of a diagnostic hearing test?

Answer 11

To describe the person’s hearing impairment and to create an audiological profile

Question 12

Name some of the subjective hearing tests

Answer 12

Pure tone audiometry (air conduction / bone conduction), Toy tests (behavioural tests for children), Speech Audiometry

Question 13

Name some of the objective procedures for hearing loss

Answer 13

Tympanograms (middle ear measurements), Auditory brainstem response, Oto-acoustic emissions

Question 14

In an audiogram where is 0?

Answer 14

At the top (the graph is inverted!)

Question 15

What does dbHL stand for?

Answer 15

Decibel Hearing Loss

Question 16

Which axis on the audiogram is labelled with dbHL?

Answer 16

Y axis (intensity of sound)

Question 17

What is measured on the X axis of the audiogram?

Answer 17

Frequency of sound

Question 18

What is the unit used to measure frequency on the audiogram?

Answer 18

kHZ

Question 19

What is meant by threshold of hearing?

Answer 19

The quietest audible sounds that can be heard

Question 20

What are the normal thresholds on an audiogram?

Answer 20

minus 10dbHL to plus 15dbHL

Question 21

What is meant by the dynamic range?

Answer 21

The difference between the quietest sounds and the loudest sounds we can hear

Question 22

What are the two procedures for pure tone testing?

Answer 22

Air conduction and bone conduction

Question 23

What is an air conduction test?

Answer 23

When the stimulus travels through the outer and middle ear to reach the cochlea

Question 24

Which hearing system does the air conduction procedure test?

Answer 24

The peripheral hearing system

Question 25

What is a bone conduction test?

Answer 25

When the stimulus is given to the cochlea by-passing the outer and middle ear

Question 26

How is the right ear represented for an air conduction test on the audiogram?

Answer 26

0

Question 27

How is the left ear represented for a air conduction test on the audiogram?

Answer 27

x

Question 28

What does air conduction testing involve?

Answer 28

The client listens to stimuli presented to each ear separately. Client indicates when increasingly quiet sounds are heard

Question 29

What does bone conduction testing involve?

Answer 29

The simuli are bone conducted pure tones presented to each ear separately via a bone vibrator held to the mastoid processes

Question 30

What will a bone conduction test show?

Answer 30

Which is the better ear

Question 31

How can you attempt to ensure a response from each cochlea in a bone conduction test?

Answer 31

By keeping the non-test ear busy by masking the test-stimuli

Question 32

How do you mask the test-stimuli in a bone conduction test?

Answer 32

Present a narrow band (500 - 1500 Hz) noise to the non-test ear

Question 33

How is the right ear represented for a bone conduction test on the audiogram?

Answer 33

[

Question 34

How is the left ear represented for a bone conduction test on the audiogram?

Answer 34

]

Question 35

What is an unmasked bone conduction test represented on the audiogram?

Answer 35

With a triangle

Question 36

What is an unmasked bone conduction test?

Answer 36

When vibrations are put on the client's forehead. This results in the better ear responding despite both ears responding

Question 37

Why can't you deliver high intensities in a bone conduction test?

Answer 37

Because the client will feel the vibrations rather than responding to to the sounds

Question 38

What is the usual upper limit for test stimuli?

Answer 38

70dbHL

Question 39

Why might someone with severe profound hearing loss not be able to have a bone conduction test?

Answer 39

Because it would require stimuli above the upper test limit (70dBHL)

Question 40

What will a typical audiogram of an impaired ear show?

Answer 40

A sloping curve with better hearing in low frequencies and worse hearing in high frequencies

Question 41

What type of hearing loss does middle ear disease result in?

Answer 41

Conductive

Question 42

If someone is suffering from conductive hearing loss but not sensori-neural hearing loss, what will their audiogram show?

Answer 42

An air bone gap

Question 43

What will the audiogram characteristics be for someone suffering from sensori-neural hearing loss?

Answer 43

Both bone and air conduction results will be abnormal

Question 44

Why is air conduction affected in sensori-neural hearing loss?

Answer 44

Because the cochlea is damaged

Question 45

What is mixed hearing loss?

Answer 45

Sensori-neual and conductive hearing loss

Question 46

What will the audiogram characteristics be for someone suffering from mixed hearing loss?

Answer 46

Both bone and air conduction tests will be abnormal and there will be an air bone gap

Question 47

What is bilateral hearing loss?

Answer 47

Hearing loss in both ears (can be asymetrical or symetrical)

Question 48

What is unilateral hearing loss?

Answer 48

Hearing loss in only one ear

Question 49

What is the pure tone average for mild hearing loss?

Answer 49

20 - 39 dBHL

Question 50

What is the pure tone average for moderate hearing loss?

Answer 50

40 - 69 dBHL

Question 51

What is the pure tone average for severe hearing loss?

Answer 51

70 - 94 dBHL

Question 52

What is the pure tone average for profound hearing loss?

Answer 52

Greater than 94 dBHL

Question 53

What is meant by 'congential' hearing loss?

Answer 53

Hearing loss that is present at birth or up to 12-15 months (before language develops)

Question 54

What is meant by 'acquired' hearing loss?

Answer 54

Hearing loss that develops from 15 months (post-language)