Hearing Aid Dispenser's Written Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_i364bi
1. Why do we perform audiometric tests?: to determine the different characteristics of a hearing
loss if one presents
2. A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors?: 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)
3. Conductive hearing loss: a loss that occurs when sound is NOT transmitted efficiently through the ear
canal, eardrum and ossicles of the middle ear.
4. What can cause a conductive hearing loss?: - middle or outer ear infection
- perforated tympanic membrane
- cerumen impaction
- benign tumors
- absence/malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
5. Can conductive hearing losses be medically treated?: Yes (and surgically)
6. Sensorineural hearing loss: 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*
7. What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss?: - disease
- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
8. Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected?: No
9. Mixed hearing loss: 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*
10. Degree of hearing loss: Normal: -10-25
Mild: 26-40
Moderate: 41-55
Moderately-severe: 56-70
, Hearing Aid Dispenser's Written Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_i364bi
Severe: 71-90
Profound: 91 +
* pediatric normal: -10-15, slight: 16-25*
11. The configuration (or shape) of the hearing loss refers to what?: 1. extent of hearing
loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
12. What are some configurations of hearing loss?: - 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
13. Noise-notch hearing loss: - common with people that have had a history of noise exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
14. Unilateral hearing loss: loss of hearing in one ear only
15. Bilateral hearing loss: loss of hearing in both ears
16. Fluctuating hearing loss: hearing loss that is always changing over time
17. Stable hearing loss: no change in hearing over time
18. Sudden hearing loss: loss of hearing that occurs quickly
19. Progressive hearing loss: loss of hearing that presents slowly over time
20. Symmetrical hearing loss: the characteristics of degree and configuration of the loss are the same in
both ears
* <10 dB*
21. Asymmetrical hearing loss: the characteristics of degree and configuration of the loss are different
between ears
* >10 dB*
22. The audiogram typically consists of what information?: - patient name
- age
- sex
- date of exam
- equipment used
- test reliability
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_i364bi
1. Why do we perform audiometric tests?: to determine the different characteristics of a hearing
loss if one presents
2. A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors?: 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)
3. Conductive hearing loss: a loss that occurs when sound is NOT transmitted efficiently through the ear
canal, eardrum and ossicles of the middle ear.
4. What can cause a conductive hearing loss?: - middle or outer ear infection
- perforated tympanic membrane
- cerumen impaction
- benign tumors
- absence/malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear
5. Can conductive hearing losses be medically treated?: Yes (and surgically)
6. Sensorineural hearing loss: 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*
7. What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss?: - disease
- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
8. Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected?: No
9. Mixed hearing loss: 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*
10. Degree of hearing loss: Normal: -10-25
Mild: 26-40
Moderate: 41-55
Moderately-severe: 56-70
, Hearing Aid Dispenser's Written Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_i364bi
Severe: 71-90
Profound: 91 +
* pediatric normal: -10-15, slight: 16-25*
11. The configuration (or shape) of the hearing loss refers to what?: 1. extent of hearing
loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
12. What are some configurations of hearing loss?: - 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
13. Noise-notch hearing loss: - common with people that have had a history of noise exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
14. Unilateral hearing loss: loss of hearing in one ear only
15. Bilateral hearing loss: loss of hearing in both ears
16. Fluctuating hearing loss: hearing loss that is always changing over time
17. Stable hearing loss: no change in hearing over time
18. Sudden hearing loss: loss of hearing that occurs quickly
19. Progressive hearing loss: loss of hearing that presents slowly over time
20. Symmetrical hearing loss: the characteristics of degree and configuration of the loss are the same in
both ears
* <10 dB*
21. Asymmetrical hearing loss: the characteristics of degree and configuration of the loss are different
between ears
* >10 dB*
22. The audiogram typically consists of what information?: - patient name
- age
- sex
- date of exam
- equipment used
- test reliability
