Practice Test Geeks(HAC) Hearing Aid Certification Practice Test
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Types of Hearing Loss & Assessment Flashcards

7 cards from real HAC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are generated by which structure within the cochlea?

    Answer: Outer hair cells

    OAEs are sounds produced by the active motility of outer hair cells and are a sensitive indicator of cochlear function.

  2. A patient presents with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, poor word recognition disproportionate to the audiogram, and absent acoustic reflexes on one side. The most likely diagnosis is:

    Answer: Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)

    Asymmetric SNHL with poor word recognition and absent ipsilateral reflexes are classic red flags for a retrocochlear lesion such as an acoustic neuroma.

  3. Which audiometric finding is characteristic of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD)?

    Answer: Present OAEs with absent or abnormal ABR

    ANSD involves intact outer hair cell function (present OAEs or cochlear microphonic) but disrupted neural synchrony (absent or grossly abnormal ABR).

  4. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) most characteristically affects which frequencies first?

    Answer: High frequencies (3000–8000 Hz)

    Presbycusis typically presents as a bilaterally symmetrical, gradually sloping high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss due to cumulative cochlear hair cell degeneration.

  5. In the modified Hughson-Westlake procedure, after a correct response the clinician decreases the signal by how many dB?

    Answer: 10 dB

    The modified ascending method uses 10 dB down (after correct response) and 5 dB up (after incorrect response) steps to bracket the threshold.

  6. A Type C tympanogram indicates:

    Answer: Negative middle ear pressure with peak below -100 daPa

    A Type C tympanogram shows a peak shifted to negative pressure (more negative than -100 daPa), suggesting poor Eustachian tube function.

  7. Word Recognition Score (WRS) testing is typically presented at what level above the SRT?

    Answer: 40 dB SL

    WRS is most commonly performed at 40 dB SL above the SRT (or MCL), ensuring suprathreshold presentation for reliable word recognition measurement.

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Sources & references

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  1. ihsinfo.org — Test delivery, eligibility, fees, retake policy, exam format, passing score, score validity, time limit · verified Oct 2026