SHS 401 - EXAM ONE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH FULL
SOLUTIONS, GUARANTEED A+,
UPDATED 2026
Audiologic vs. Otologic Concerns
Focus What it covers Key Questions
The functional side of "Do you struggle in restaurants?" "Do sounds
Audiologic
hearing. seem muffled?"
The medical health of "Is there pain or drainage?" "Is there a family
Otologic
the ear. history of ear disease?"
Waiting Room Observations: The "Pre-Test"
A skilled clinician uses the "informal" interaction in the waiting room to gauge the
severity of the hearing loss before the patient ever enters the sound booth.
Social Interaction: Can the patient follow a general conversation or do they
rely heavily on a spouse to answer?
Environmental Cues: Do they struggle to hear you over the background
noise of the clinic?
Response to Name: If a patient fails to respond when called, it suggests a
significant loss or a specific issue with auditory processing.
Head Positioning: Do they habitually turn one side of their head toward the
speaker? This is a strong indicator of unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss.
The Case History: Building the Clinical Picture
A case history is essentially a roadmap for the diagnostic session.
1. Essentials for All Patients
, 1. Identifying Information: Age, occupation (to check for noise exposure),
and primary language.
2. Health History: Medications (ototoxic drugs), history of ear infections, or
surgeries.
3. Hearing History: Onset of loss (gradual vs. sudden) and presence of
tinnitus (ringing) or vertigo (dizziness).
2. Pediatric-Specific History
When the patient is a child, the history must be much more expansive:
Developmental Milestones: When did they sit up? When did they say their
first word? Delays in speech often mirror delays in hearing.
Academic Progress: Are they struggling in school? Children with
undiagnosed hearing loss are often mistakenly labeled with ADHD or
Learning Disabilities because they "don't pay attention."
Special Services: Are they already receiving SLP, PT, or OT services?
Clinical Tip
Peer Insight: It is not uncommon for a child to be referred for "behavioral issues"
or "speech delay" before anyone considers a hearing test. Always treat the hearing
screening as the first step in any pediatric developmental evaluation.
Four key symptoms related to hearing disorders
1) Hearing loss
2) Tinnitus
3) Dizziness or vertigo
4) Pain (Otalgia) - ear pain
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Hearing Loss
, *Unilateral or bilateral (typically bilateral)
*Symmetric or assymetric (typically symmetric)
*Fluctuating (good days/bad days) or progressive (every year seems to get worse)
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Tinnitus
Ringing in Ear
*Unilateral or bilateral
*Perceptual characteristics (e.g., roaring, tonal, other)
*Intermittent or continuous
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Dizziness or Vertigo
*Unsteadiness or spinning sensation
*Frequency of episodes
*Duration of episodes
*Any other symptoms (e.g., nausea, tinnitus)
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Pain (Otalgia)
*Localized (in ear) or referred (feeling pain somewhere else)
*Frequency of painful episodes
*Related incidents
AND ANSWERS WITH FULL
SOLUTIONS, GUARANTEED A+,
UPDATED 2026
Audiologic vs. Otologic Concerns
Focus What it covers Key Questions
The functional side of "Do you struggle in restaurants?" "Do sounds
Audiologic
hearing. seem muffled?"
The medical health of "Is there pain or drainage?" "Is there a family
Otologic
the ear. history of ear disease?"
Waiting Room Observations: The "Pre-Test"
A skilled clinician uses the "informal" interaction in the waiting room to gauge the
severity of the hearing loss before the patient ever enters the sound booth.
Social Interaction: Can the patient follow a general conversation or do they
rely heavily on a spouse to answer?
Environmental Cues: Do they struggle to hear you over the background
noise of the clinic?
Response to Name: If a patient fails to respond when called, it suggests a
significant loss or a specific issue with auditory processing.
Head Positioning: Do they habitually turn one side of their head toward the
speaker? This is a strong indicator of unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss.
The Case History: Building the Clinical Picture
A case history is essentially a roadmap for the diagnostic session.
1. Essentials for All Patients
, 1. Identifying Information: Age, occupation (to check for noise exposure),
and primary language.
2. Health History: Medications (ototoxic drugs), history of ear infections, or
surgeries.
3. Hearing History: Onset of loss (gradual vs. sudden) and presence of
tinnitus (ringing) or vertigo (dizziness).
2. Pediatric-Specific History
When the patient is a child, the history must be much more expansive:
Developmental Milestones: When did they sit up? When did they say their
first word? Delays in speech often mirror delays in hearing.
Academic Progress: Are they struggling in school? Children with
undiagnosed hearing loss are often mistakenly labeled with ADHD or
Learning Disabilities because they "don't pay attention."
Special Services: Are they already receiving SLP, PT, or OT services?
Clinical Tip
Peer Insight: It is not uncommon for a child to be referred for "behavioral issues"
or "speech delay" before anyone considers a hearing test. Always treat the hearing
screening as the first step in any pediatric developmental evaluation.
Four key symptoms related to hearing disorders
1) Hearing loss
2) Tinnitus
3) Dizziness or vertigo
4) Pain (Otalgia) - ear pain
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Hearing Loss
, *Unilateral or bilateral (typically bilateral)
*Symmetric or assymetric (typically symmetric)
*Fluctuating (good days/bad days) or progressive (every year seems to get worse)
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Tinnitus
Ringing in Ear
*Unilateral or bilateral
*Perceptual characteristics (e.g., roaring, tonal, other)
*Intermittent or continuous
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Dizziness or Vertigo
*Unsteadiness or spinning sensation
*Frequency of episodes
*Duration of episodes
*Any other symptoms (e.g., nausea, tinnitus)
Key symptoms related to hearing disorders: Pain (Otalgia)
*Localized (in ear) or referred (feeling pain somewhere else)
*Frequency of painful episodes
*Related incidents
