Audiometric Testing Procedures Flashcards

What is the purpose of otoscopic examination prior to audiometric testing?

Answer: To visually inspect the ear canal and tympanic membrane for conditions that may affect testing

Otoscopic examination allows the hearing specialist to identify cerumen impaction, perforations, or other conditions that could influence audiometric results.

What does Type A tympanogram indicate?

Answer: Normal middle ear pressure and compliance

A Type A tympanogram shows peak compliance near 0 daPa with normal peak height, indicating normal middle ear function.

Which tympanogram type is most associated with otitis media with effusion (fluid in the middle ear)?

Answer: Type B

A Type B (flat) tympanogram with no discernible peak indicates reduced or absent tympanic membrane mobility, consistent with middle ear fluid.

What does a Type C tympanogram indicate?

Answer: Negative middle ear pressure, often due to Eustachian tube dysfunction

A Type C tympanogram shows peak compliance at a significantly negative pressure (beyond -100 daPa), indicating Eustachian tube dysfunction.

At what frequency is the acoustic reflex most commonly elicited in clinical testing?

Answer: 1,000 Hz

The acoustic reflex is most reliably elicited at 1,000 Hz, which is the standard test frequency used in clinical tympanometry.

In a patient with normal hearing, at what approximate HL level is the acoustic stapedial reflex typically elicited?

Answer: 70–90 dB HL

In individuals with normal hearing, the acoustic reflex threshold is typically elicited between 70 and 90 dB HL above audiometric threshold.

What is the primary advantage of insert earphones over supra-aural earphones in audiometry?

Answer: They increase interaural attenuation, reducing the need for masking

Insert earphones provide interaural attenuation of approximately 70–80 dB, significantly higher than supra-aural earphones, which reduces cross-hearing and masking requirements.