ILE TEST PREP 168 KEY CONCEPTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ A patient/client with medical clearance comes to the hearing
healthcare professional's office for an evaluation. During the case
history, the patient/client discusses having recurring otitis externa.
Test results reveal a bilateral moderate mixed loss. The
patient/client expresses a desire for hearing instruments that can
NOT be seen. Which hearing instruments should the hearing
healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: Mini-BTE instruments with open molds
◉ An elderly patient/client reports having had a mastoidectomy
performed in the past. No chronic infection is reported. The
information provided by the patient/client is supported by
otoscopic inspection. How should the hearing healthcare
professional proceed?
Answer: use multiple otoblocks when taking the ear impression
◉ A patient/client needs to replace their 6-year-old CIC hearing
instruments with updated technology. The hearing loss is a relatively
flat sensory/neural symmetrical loss. The devices have feedback
problems after about 2 hours of use. Feedback measurements in the
software suggest that feedback should not be present. The hearing
instruments were returned to the manufacturer to address the
,feedback, but are no different when returned. The patient/client is
happy with the style and size of the devices, and prefers not to
change styles unless required. What should the hearing healthcare
professional do?
Answer: take open jaw impression for new CICs
◉ A patient/client presents with moderate to severe sloping
bilateral sensory/neural loss. The patient reports troubles with
dexterity and understanding conversation on a cell phone. Which
fitting should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: BTE instruments with a large battery and Bluetooth
connectivity
◉ A patient/client with mild-to-moderate, high frequency,
sensory/neural hearing loss is dissatisfied with custom CIC hearing
instruments. The patient/client reports that the instruments make
their voice sound like they are in a barrel. Which hearing aid style
should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: RIC with an open-vent earmold
◉ A patient/client currently wears binaural hearing instruments. He
is a manager of a company and belongs to several community
organizations. His binaural word recognition score is 76%. He is
most frustrated in meetings. He wants a new pair of hearing
instruments only if they will improve his ability to hear in meetings.
What should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
, Answer: Wireless remote microphone
◉ Which two pieces of information should a hearing healthcare
professional acquire through otoscopic examination prior to taking
an ear impression? (CHOOSE TWO)
Answer: 1) Unusual contours or landmarks
2) General diameter, length, and direction of ear canal
◉ Refer to case history and audiometric results.
Case History
• Male, age 83 is seen for the first time at the hearing healthcare
professional's office.
• Has worn RICs unsuccessfully due to excessive feedback.
• Has exczema in ears.
• Unsuccessful trial with BTEs with custom canal molds due to poor
sound quality and excessive feedback.
• Unsuccessful trial with ITE, which aggravated his psoriasis; ENT
said he could NOT continue to wear ITE.
• Reports better sound quality in custom instruments with
directional microphones and frequency compression.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ A patient/client with medical clearance comes to the hearing
healthcare professional's office for an evaluation. During the case
history, the patient/client discusses having recurring otitis externa.
Test results reveal a bilateral moderate mixed loss. The
patient/client expresses a desire for hearing instruments that can
NOT be seen. Which hearing instruments should the hearing
healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: Mini-BTE instruments with open molds
◉ An elderly patient/client reports having had a mastoidectomy
performed in the past. No chronic infection is reported. The
information provided by the patient/client is supported by
otoscopic inspection. How should the hearing healthcare
professional proceed?
Answer: use multiple otoblocks when taking the ear impression
◉ A patient/client needs to replace their 6-year-old CIC hearing
instruments with updated technology. The hearing loss is a relatively
flat sensory/neural symmetrical loss. The devices have feedback
problems after about 2 hours of use. Feedback measurements in the
software suggest that feedback should not be present. The hearing
instruments were returned to the manufacturer to address the
,feedback, but are no different when returned. The patient/client is
happy with the style and size of the devices, and prefers not to
change styles unless required. What should the hearing healthcare
professional do?
Answer: take open jaw impression for new CICs
◉ A patient/client presents with moderate to severe sloping
bilateral sensory/neural loss. The patient reports troubles with
dexterity and understanding conversation on a cell phone. Which
fitting should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: BTE instruments with a large battery and Bluetooth
connectivity
◉ A patient/client with mild-to-moderate, high frequency,
sensory/neural hearing loss is dissatisfied with custom CIC hearing
instruments. The patient/client reports that the instruments make
their voice sound like they are in a barrel. Which hearing aid style
should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
Answer: RIC with an open-vent earmold
◉ A patient/client currently wears binaural hearing instruments. He
is a manager of a company and belongs to several community
organizations. His binaural word recognition score is 76%. He is
most frustrated in meetings. He wants a new pair of hearing
instruments only if they will improve his ability to hear in meetings.
What should the hearing healthcare professional recommend?
, Answer: Wireless remote microphone
◉ Which two pieces of information should a hearing healthcare
professional acquire through otoscopic examination prior to taking
an ear impression? (CHOOSE TWO)
Answer: 1) Unusual contours or landmarks
2) General diameter, length, and direction of ear canal
◉ Refer to case history and audiometric results.
Case History
• Male, age 83 is seen for the first time at the hearing healthcare
professional's office.
• Has worn RICs unsuccessfully due to excessive feedback.
• Has exczema in ears.
• Unsuccessful trial with BTEs with custom canal molds due to poor
sound quality and excessive feedback.
• Unsuccessful trial with ITE, which aggravated his psoriasis; ENT
said he could NOT continue to wear ITE.
• Reports better sound quality in custom instruments with
directional microphones and frequency compression.
