Types of Hearing Loss & Assessment Flashcards

Which condition is characterized by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness?

Answer: Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease is caused by endolymphatic hydrops and presents with the classic tetrad of episodic vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.

When masking is required during bone conduction testing, the masking noise is delivered to:

Answer: The non-test ear via insert or supra-aural earphone

During bone conduction testing, masking noise is placed in the non-test ear to prevent it from responding to the signal.

A downward-sloping audiogram configuration most commonly indicates:

Answer: High-frequency sensorineural damage

A ski-slope or downward-sloping audiogram, with worse thresholds at high frequencies, reflects damage to the high-frequency region of the cochlea.

Which test measures the acoustic reflex, indicating the integrity of the middle ear, cochlea, and brainstem pathway?

Answer: Acoustic immittance testing

Acoustic immittance testing (tympanometry + reflex testing) evaluates middle ear function and the stapedius reflex arc involving CN VII and VIII.

An audiogram showing hearing thresholds within 0–25 dB HL across all frequencies for an adult is classified as:

Answer: Normal hearing

Per standard audiometric classification, thresholds of 0–25 dB HL in adults are considered within the normal range.

Cholesteatoma most commonly causes hearing loss through which mechanism?

Answer: Ossicular erosion or discontinuity

Cholesteatoma is a benign skin cyst that grows in the middle ear and erodes the ossicles, causing conductive hearing loss.

The four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) used for hearing aid candidacy typically averages thresholds at:

Answer: 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz

The four-frequency PTA for hearing aid candidacy commonly uses 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, the frequencies most critical for speech understanding.