Audiometry

Question 1

Audiometry

Answer 1

Testing a patient’s hearing by playing a variety of tones and volumes using headphones (air conduction) and a bone conduction device (oscillator) that delivers sound directly to the bones of the skull.

Audiometry results are recorded on an audiogram.

Question 2

Audiogram

Answer 2

Charts that document the volume at which patients can hear different tones.

X-axis - frequency (Hz) from low to high pitched.

Y-axis - volume in decibels (dB), from loud at the bottom to quiet at the top

Question 3

Audiogram symbols

Answer 3

X - left ear AC
] - left ear BC

O - right ear AC
[ - right ear BC

Question 4

Normal hearing

Answer 4

All readings will be between 0 and 20 dB

Question 5

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 5

Both air and bone conduction readings will be more than 20 dB

Question 6

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 6

Bone conduction readings will be normal between 0 and 20 dB

Air conduction readings will be greater than 20 dB

Question 7

Mixed hearing loss

Answer 7

Both air and bone conduction readings will be more than 20 dB

Difference of more than 15 dB between the two (bone conduction > air conduction).