ABA Pediatric Audiology & Counseling 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), the recommended age range for the procedure is approximately:
- 0–6 months
- 6–24 months (Correct answer)
- 3–5 years
- 5–8 years
Correct answer: 6–24 months
VRA is most effective for children aged approximately 6 to 24 months who can reliably orient to sound and be conditioned with visual reinforcement.
Question 2: Which formula is used to calculate the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) in pediatric hearing aid fittings?
- It is calculated from the audiogram alone
- It compares aided audibility to the long-term average speech spectrum (Correct answer)
- It measures the ratio of signal to noise in the hearing aid microphone
- It quantifies the child's word recognition score in quiet
Correct answer: It compares aided audibility to the long-term average speech spectrum
The SII quantifies what proportion of the long-term average speech spectrum is audible with amplification, guiding pediatric fitting targets.
Question 3: A toddler repeatedly removes their hearing aids. Which family-centered counseling strategy is MOST appropriate initially?
- Switch to a cochlear implant referral
- Identify barriers and problem-solve with the family (Correct answer)
- Recommend auditory-verbal therapy exclusively
- Discontinue hearing aid use until the child is older
Correct answer: Identify barriers and problem-solve with the family
Exploring the family's specific barriers to consistent use and collaboratively problem-solving is the foundation of family-centered pediatric audiology.
Question 4: In conditioned play audiometry (CPA), the child is trained to perform a play task (e.g., drop a block) in response to a sound. The typical age range for this technique is:
- 0–6 months
- 6–18 months
- 2.5–5 years (Correct answer)
- 6–10 years
Correct answer: 2.5–5 years
CPA is designed for children approximately 2.5 to 5 years old who can follow simple instructions and perform a conditioned play response.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key feature of the Desired Sensation Level (DSL) fitting method for pediatric hearing aids?
- It targets average adult loudness preferences
- It aims to make average conversational speech comfortably loud and audible across frequencies (Correct answer)
- It relies solely on patient-reported comfort levels
- It is based on probe-microphone measurements in adults only
Correct answer: It aims to make average conversational speech comfortably loud and audible across frequencies
DSL targets audibility of average conversational speech within the child's residual dynamic range across a broad frequency range.
Question 6: A parent reports their 2-year-old responds to loud sounds but not soft voices. This presentation is MOST consistent with:
- Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder
- Mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (Correct answer)
- Severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss
- Normal hearing with developmental delay
Correct answer: Mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss
Responding to loud environmental sounds but inconsistently to soft speech is a classic presentation of mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
Question 7: The primary goal of early intervention for infants identified with hearing loss through EHDI programs is to:
- Delay fitting until the child can cooperate with behavioral testing
- Minimize the impact of hearing loss on speech, language, and development (Correct answer)
- Prioritize sign language over spoken language exclusively
- Defer amplification until medical clearance at 12 months
Correct answer: Minimize the impact of hearing loss on speech, language, and development
Early intervention aims to provide access to sound as early as possible to support speech and language development on par with hearing peers.
ABA Pediatric Audiology & Counseling 3
During Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA), the recommended age range for the procedure is approximately: