Hearing Aid Dispenser's Written Exam
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Why do we perform audiometric tests? - CORRECT ANSWER- to determine the different
characteristics of a hearing loss if one presents
A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors? - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- Yes (and
surgically)
Sensorineural hearing loss - CORRECT 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*
What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss? - CORRECT ANSWER- - disease
,- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected? - CORRECT ANSWER-
No
Mixed hearing loss - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- 1.
extent of hearing loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
, What are some configurations of hearing loss? - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- - common with people that have had a
history of noise exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
Unilateral hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing in one ear only
Bilateral hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing in both ears
Fluctuating hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- hearing loss that is always changing over
time
Stable hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- no change in hearing over time
Sudden hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing that occurs quickly
Progressive hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing that presents slowly over
time
Symmetrical hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- the characteristics of degree and
configuration of the loss are the same in both ears
* <10 dB*
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Why do we perform audiometric tests? - CORRECT ANSWER- to determine the different
characteristics of a hearing loss if one presents
A hearing loss is characterized by what three descriptors? - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- Yes (and
surgically)
Sensorineural hearing loss - CORRECT 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*
What can cause a sensorineural hearing loss? - CORRECT ANSWER- - disease
,- birth injury
- ototoxic drugs
- genetic syndromes
- noise exposure
- viruses
- head trauma
- aging
- tumors
Can sensorineural hearing loss be medically or surgically corrected? - CORRECT ANSWER-
No
Mixed hearing loss - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER- 1.
extent of hearing loss at each frequency
2. overall picture of hearing that is created
, What are some configurations of hearing loss? - CORRECT 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 - CORRECT ANSWER- - common with people that have had a
history of noise exposure
- noise notch between 3000 and 6000 Hz
Unilateral hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing in one ear only
Bilateral hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing in both ears
Fluctuating hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- hearing loss that is always changing over
time
Stable hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- no change in hearing over time
Sudden hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing that occurs quickly
Progressive hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- loss of hearing that presents slowly over
time
Symmetrical hearing loss - CORRECT ANSWER- the characteristics of degree and
configuration of the loss are the same in both ears
* <10 dB*
