Hearing Aid Dispenser's Written Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Verified
Why do we perform audiometric tests? - ANSWER - to determine the different characteristics of
a hearing loss if one presents
A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors? - ANSWER - 1. Type of hearing loss
(conductive, sensorineural, mixed)
2. Degree of hearing loss (mild, moderate, etc)
3. Configuration of hearing loss or what the hearing loss looks like (ex: flat, rising, sloping, etc)
Conductive hearing loss - ANSWER - a loss that occurs when sound is NOT transmitted
efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum and ossicles of the middle ear.
What can cause a conductive hearing loss? - ANSWER - - middle or outer ear infection
- perforated tympanic membrane
- cerumen impaction
- benign tumors
- absence/malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
Can conductive hearing losses be medically treated? - ANSWER - Yes (and surgically)
Sensorineural hearing loss - ANSWER - occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea)
or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain (retrocochlear) *permanent loss*
Unilateral hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing in one ear only
Bilateral hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing in both ears
Fluctuating hearing loss - ANSWER - hearing loss that is always changing over time
,Stable hearing loss - ANSWER - no change in hearing over time
What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss? - ANSWER - - disease
- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected? - ANSWER - No
Mixed hearing loss - ANSWER - occurs when there is damage to the outer and inner ear
(cochlea) or auditory nerve
* air-bone gap with abnormal air and bone conduction thresholds*
Degree of hearing loss - ANSWER - Normal: -10-25
Mild: 26-40
Moderate: 41-55
Moderately-severe: 56-70
Severe: 71-90
Profound: 91 +
* pediatric normal: -10-15, slight: 16-25*
The configuration (or shape) of the hearing loss refers to what? - ANSWER - 1. extent of
hearing loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
, What are some configurations of hearing loss? - ANSWER - - flat: generally varies within 10-15
dB at all frequencies
- gently sloping: a gradual reduction from lower to higher frequencies
- rising or reverse slope: greater hearing loss in the low frequencies, better hearing in the high
frequencies
- precipitous slope: (ski slope or high frequency) better hearing in the low frequency range to a
severe drop in the high frequency range
Noise-notch hearing loss - ANSWER - - common with people that have had a history of noise
exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
Sudden hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing that occurs quickly
Progressive hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing that presents slowly over time
Symmetrical hearing loss - ANSWER - the characteristics of degree and configuration of the
loss are the same in both ears
* <10 dB*
Asymmetrical hearing loss - ANSWER - the characteristics of degree and configuration of the
loss are different between ears
* >10 dB*
The audiogram typically consists of what information? - ANSWER - - patient name
- age
- sex
- date of exam
- equipment used
- test reliability
- comments
- hearing test information
Questions and Answers 100% Verified
Why do we perform audiometric tests? - ANSWER - to determine the different characteristics of
a hearing loss if one presents
A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors? - ANSWER - 1. Type of hearing loss
(conductive, sensorineural, mixed)
2. Degree of hearing loss (mild, moderate, etc)
3. Configuration of hearing loss or what the hearing loss looks like (ex: flat, rising, sloping, etc)
Conductive hearing loss - ANSWER - a loss that occurs when sound is NOT transmitted
efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum and ossicles of the middle ear.
What can cause a conductive hearing loss? - ANSWER - - middle or outer ear infection
- perforated tympanic membrane
- cerumen impaction
- benign tumors
- absence/malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
Can conductive hearing losses be medically treated? - ANSWER - Yes (and surgically)
Sensorineural hearing loss - ANSWER - occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea)
or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain (retrocochlear) *permanent loss*
Unilateral hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing in one ear only
Bilateral hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing in both ears
Fluctuating hearing loss - ANSWER - hearing loss that is always changing over time
,Stable hearing loss - ANSWER - no change in hearing over time
What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss? - ANSWER - - disease
- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected? - ANSWER - No
Mixed hearing loss - ANSWER - occurs when there is damage to the outer and inner ear
(cochlea) or auditory nerve
* air-bone gap with abnormal air and bone conduction thresholds*
Degree of hearing loss - ANSWER - Normal: -10-25
Mild: 26-40
Moderate: 41-55
Moderately-severe: 56-70
Severe: 71-90
Profound: 91 +
* pediatric normal: -10-15, slight: 16-25*
The configuration (or shape) of the hearing loss refers to what? - ANSWER - 1. extent of
hearing loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
, What are some configurations of hearing loss? - ANSWER - - flat: generally varies within 10-15
dB at all frequencies
- gently sloping: a gradual reduction from lower to higher frequencies
- rising or reverse slope: greater hearing loss in the low frequencies, better hearing in the high
frequencies
- precipitous slope: (ski slope or high frequency) better hearing in the low frequency range to a
severe drop in the high frequency range
Noise-notch hearing loss - ANSWER - - common with people that have had a history of noise
exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
Sudden hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing that occurs quickly
Progressive hearing loss - ANSWER - loss of hearing that presents slowly over time
Symmetrical hearing loss - ANSWER - the characteristics of degree and configuration of the
loss are the same in both ears
* <10 dB*
Asymmetrical hearing loss - ANSWER - the characteristics of degree and configuration of the
loss are different between ears
* >10 dB*
The audiogram typically consists of what information? - ANSWER - - patient name
- age
- sex
- date of exam
- equipment used
- test reliability
- comments
- hearing test information
