PRAXIS - Audiology and Hearing
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is the liquid inside the cochlea?
a) Basilar membrane
b) Cerumen
c) Endolymph
d) Perilymph - CORRECT ANSWER - C, The endolymph fills the cochlea, which bathes
the Organ of Corti transmits vibrational movements to the basilar membrane.
The stapedius muscle is innervated by ____, and the tensor tympani is innervated by ____:
a) CN V, CN VII
b) CN X, CN XI
c) CN VII, CN V
d) CN V, CN X - CORRECT ANSWER - C, The stapedius muscle is innervated by CN
VII (facial nerve), and the tensor tympani is innervated by CN V (trigeminal).
How much (approximately) does the ossicular chain amplify incoming sound?
a) 8 dB
b) 12 dB
c) 22 dB
d) 30 dB - CORRECT ANSWER - D, the ossicular chain amplifies sound approximately
30 dB before transmitting that sound into the inner ear fluids.
When a sound is transmitted to the inner ear and stimulates the apex of the basliar membrane, the
perceived sound is:
a) A high frequency sound
b) A low amplitude sound
, c) A high amplitude sound
d) A low frequency sound - CORRECT ANSWER - D, The apex/tip of the basilar
membrane is wider, and when stimulated, the perceived sound is one of low frequency (pitch).
Approximately how many nerve fibers are in the cochlea?
a) ~10,000
b) ~30,000
c) ~60,000
d) ~100,000 - CORRECT ANSWER - B, There are ~30,000 nerve fibers in the cochlea
and ~15,000 cilia in the organ of Corti. The nerve fibers are considered part of the peripheral
nervous system until they reach the brainstem, where most of them decussate and then project to
the temporal lobe to interpret
What is hearing level (HL)?
a) The lowest intensity of a sound necessary to stimulate the auditory system
b) The lowest/softest level of hearing at which the person can understand 50% of the words
presented
c) The intensity level at which a tone is faintly hear at 50% of the time it is presented
d) How well a person discriminates between words by repeating monosyllabic words such as cap
and day - CORRECT ANSWER - A, hearing level is the lowest intensity of a sound
necessary to simulate the auditory system. (B) is the speech reception threshold, (C) is a
threshold, and (D) is a word discrimination/recognition test
Which one is not a cause of conductive hearing loss?
a) Otitis media
b) Bacterial meningitis
c) Otospongiosis
d) Otosclerosis - CORRECT ANSWER - B, Bacterial meningitis does not affect the
middle or outer ear. It is a cause of sensorineural hearing loss, not conductive hearing loss.
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is the liquid inside the cochlea?
a) Basilar membrane
b) Cerumen
c) Endolymph
d) Perilymph - CORRECT ANSWER - C, The endolymph fills the cochlea, which bathes
the Organ of Corti transmits vibrational movements to the basilar membrane.
The stapedius muscle is innervated by ____, and the tensor tympani is innervated by ____:
a) CN V, CN VII
b) CN X, CN XI
c) CN VII, CN V
d) CN V, CN X - CORRECT ANSWER - C, The stapedius muscle is innervated by CN
VII (facial nerve), and the tensor tympani is innervated by CN V (trigeminal).
How much (approximately) does the ossicular chain amplify incoming sound?
a) 8 dB
b) 12 dB
c) 22 dB
d) 30 dB - CORRECT ANSWER - D, the ossicular chain amplifies sound approximately
30 dB before transmitting that sound into the inner ear fluids.
When a sound is transmitted to the inner ear and stimulates the apex of the basliar membrane, the
perceived sound is:
a) A high frequency sound
b) A low amplitude sound
, c) A high amplitude sound
d) A low frequency sound - CORRECT ANSWER - D, The apex/tip of the basilar
membrane is wider, and when stimulated, the perceived sound is one of low frequency (pitch).
Approximately how many nerve fibers are in the cochlea?
a) ~10,000
b) ~30,000
c) ~60,000
d) ~100,000 - CORRECT ANSWER - B, There are ~30,000 nerve fibers in the cochlea
and ~15,000 cilia in the organ of Corti. The nerve fibers are considered part of the peripheral
nervous system until they reach the brainstem, where most of them decussate and then project to
the temporal lobe to interpret
What is hearing level (HL)?
a) The lowest intensity of a sound necessary to stimulate the auditory system
b) The lowest/softest level of hearing at which the person can understand 50% of the words
presented
c) The intensity level at which a tone is faintly hear at 50% of the time it is presented
d) How well a person discriminates between words by repeating monosyllabic words such as cap
and day - CORRECT ANSWER - A, hearing level is the lowest intensity of a sound
necessary to simulate the auditory system. (B) is the speech reception threshold, (C) is a
threshold, and (D) is a word discrimination/recognition test
Which one is not a cause of conductive hearing loss?
a) Otitis media
b) Bacterial meningitis
c) Otospongiosis
d) Otosclerosis - CORRECT ANSWER - B, Bacterial meningitis does not affect the
middle or outer ear. It is a cause of sensorineural hearing loss, not conductive hearing loss.
