Aud Diag I

Question 1

If your headphones stop working, can you plug in headphones of the same type and still have a valid test? Why or why not?

Answer 1

No, you cannot. This is because the headphones are calibrated based on the audiogram that they are plugged into. If you move those headphones to an audiogram that it wasn’t calibrated to, the test would not be valid.

Question 2

When describing a tympanic membrane perforation, what two features with regards to the perforation itself need to be reported?

Answer 2

The size of the perforation and the location of the perforation should be reported when describing a tympanic membrane perforation.

Question 3

frequencies routinely tested via ac per asha

Answer 3

250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, & 8000

Question 4

Which frequencies are averaged in the typical pure tone average? (3-frequency)

Answer 4

5,1,2

Question 5

What is the difference between the speech recognition threshold (SRT) and the speech awareness threshold (SAT, also referred to as the speech detection threshold, SDT)? What is considered good agreement between the pure tone average the SRT? What is considered good agreement between the pure tone average and the SAT

Answer 5

SRT is when they are able to repeat the spondee words back correctly 50% of the time at their absolute threshold. SAT is the ability to detect the spondee stimuli 50% of the time at their absolute threshold.

Good agreement for the SRT is 10dB above or below the PTA and for SAT is should be 15-20 dB better only.

Question 6

What is the dB SL if the presentation level is 65 dB HL and threshold is 45 dB HL?

Answer 6

20

Question 7

What are two key ingredients to correct differential diagnosis?

Answer 7

case history & thorough physical exam

Question 8

If you were tasked with designing a case history form to be used as a written form that the patient fills out before the appointment, what important considerations would you make sure to implement?

Answer 8

making sure you have the form available in the languages that are relevant to your area that you practice in
keeping it at a simple reading level
keeping it concise.

Question 9

List two advantages to taking at least part of a case history orally

Answer 9

can build rapport
have a better understanding as to how well they are able to communicate and how well they are hearing you during conversations.

Question 10

What are the RETSPL values for speech for supra-aural headphones and for inserts?

Answer 10

20

13

Question 11

Why are RETSPL values different for different transducers?

Answer 11

EC size and volume differs w/ each transducer and they are calibrated to represent this difference

Question 12

What is the name of the organization that creates standards used in audiology

Answer 12

ansi

Question 13

Adjust frequency control and note if the pitch changes

Answer 13

frequency switch

Question 14

Adjust attenuation control and note if the loudness changes

Answer 14

attenuation dial

Question 15

Check for audible sound on the left side (for example) when presenting sound to the right side

Answer 15

cross check

Question 16

Move the cord and listen for crackling or unwanted sound

Answer 16

check integrit of the cord

Question 17

Name 4 out of the 6 indicators from the case history that a medical referral is warranted.

Answer 17

1. Fluctuating hearing loss
2. Sudden hearing loss
3. Sudden onset of tinnitus
4. Sudden onset of vertigo

Question 18

What is wrong with this report of sound field testing?

“Sound field testing from the left side indicated hearing thresholds within normal limits at the left ear; sound field testing from the right side indicated a mild hearing loss at the right ear.”

Answer 18

we cannot tell which ear is responding just that the better ear is

Question 19

List four important factors for soundfield testing.

Answer 19

Use a warble tone

Make sure the patient’s head aligns with the sticker in the booth for calibration

Make sure the patient is sitting at the correct azimuth to the speakers to which the booth was calibrated to

Make sure there are no reflections, like posters on the wall, that were not present during calibration

Question 20

How is test/retest reliability assessed? What amount of variation is acceptable for pure tone air conduction testing to be considered reliable?

Answer 20

For pure tone air conduction, plus or minus 5 dB is acceptable.

We start by testing the air conduction pure tones at 1,000 Hz and test up to 8,000 Hz. We then retest 1,000 Hz before we begin testing 250 Hz and finally 500 Hz.

Question 21

Can use when ear is impacted with cerumen

Answer 21

supra
circum

Question 22

Reduced occlusion effect

Answer 22

inserts

Question 23

increased interaural attenuation

Answer 23

inserts

Question 24

Can use in case of atresia

Answer 24

supra c
circum

Question 25

bony cochlea vibrates; traveling wave is generated

Answer 25

distortion

Question 26

occluding the ear “traps” sound in the ear canal, which transmits through the tympanic membrane

Answer 26

osseotympanic

Question 27

bony middle ear vibrates; ossicles are suspended and vibrate at same frequency

Answer 27

inertial

Question 28

Define vibrotactile response. Is this more likely in lower or higher frequencies?

Answer 28

Vibrotactile response happens during bone conduction and is when the patient feels the vibrations instead of hears it. This occurs in the low frequencies.

Question 29

For this question, dB is unspecified but the reference is the same throughout. The concept is the same whether it is dB SPL or dB HL.

A sound at location A is 75 dB, and it attenuates by 35 dB by the time it reaches location B.

What is the sound level at location B?

Would this sound be audible to someone with a hearing threshold of 35 dB for that sound?

Answer 29

Sound level at location B is 40 dB; it WOULD be audible to the listener

Question 30

Identify four potential consequences of incorrect masking.

Answer 30

Give the patient false hope

improper management, the patient receives surgery when they didn’t need it or they need the surgery but do not get it because of incorrect masking

incorrect levels for HA programming

lawsuit

Question 31

become less

Answer 31

attenuate

Question 32

non-test ear hears sound presented to the test ear

Answer 32

cross hearing

Question 33

the non-test ear continues to respond despite use of masking

Answer 33

undermasking

Question 34

an increase of masking of a certain dB with stimulus presented to the test ear remaining audible

Answer 34

plateau

Question 35

masking noise presented to non-test ear interferes with stimulus presented to the test ear

Answer 35

oermasking

Question 36

the amount in dB by which a sound presented to the test ear is attenuated from the test ear to the non-test ear

Answer 36

interaural attenuation

Question 37

We use conservative interaural attenuation (IA) values based on studies measuring average IA values. What three factors influence the amount of IA that would actually be present?

Answer 37

the frequency

the transducer

the individual person

Question 38

When does our formula for the starting level of the masker include the occlusion effect?

Answer 38

when testing for bone conduction

Question 39

What question are we trying to answer when we mask for bone conduction? Select all that apply.

if any hearing loss seen is conductive, mixed, or sensorineural

which cochlea was responding to our unmasked bone conduction testing

If a tone presented at one side via bone conduction crossed over and was heard at the other side

If a tone presented at one side via air conduction crossed over and was heard at the other side

Answer 39

if any hearing loss seen is conductive, mixed, or sensorineural

which cochlea was responding to our unmasked bone conduction testing

If a tone presented at one side via bone conduction crossed over and was heard at the other side

Question 40

Central masking is a phenomenon that can occur during masking for pure tone testing. What would it look like during testing?

Answer 40

The test ear threshold shifts slightly and this can not be attributed to overmasking.

Question 41

Does the tone type matter for sound field testing for pure tone testing?

Answer 41

yes, must use warble tones

Question 42

List four factors that could adversely affect pure tone test results.

Answer 42

1. Patterning
2. Too long of testing time
3. too short of a presentation time of a tone
4. attention span and understanding of the task of the patient

Question 43

What is one sure indication that you have measured a valid masked threshold?

Answer 43

You are able to achieve a plateau with masking.