IHS Hearing Loss Assessment 5

Question 1

During case history intake, a patient reports sudden hearing loss in one ear upon waking that morning. The hearing instrument specialist should:

Accepted Answer

Refer the patient to a physician immediately as this is a medical emergency

Answer

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a medical emergency requiring urgent physician evaluation and possible steroid treatment within 72 hours for best prognosis.

Question 2

Which tympanogram type suggests excessive mobility of the tympanic membrane, possibly due to ossicular discontinuity or a monomeric membrane?

Accepted Answer

Type Ad (deep/high compliance)

Answer

Type Ad (Ad = deep) tympanogram shows abnormally high compliance, indicating hypermobility of the tympanic membrane, seen with ossicular discontinuity or healed perforations.

Question 3

The degree of hearing loss classified as 'severe' corresponds to pure tone average thresholds in the range of:

Accepted Answer

71–90 dB HL

Answer

According to standard audiometric classification, severe hearing loss corresponds to pure tone averages between 71 and 90 dB HL.

Question 4

A patient with normal audiometric thresholds but significant complaints of difficulty understanding speech in noise most likely warrants referral for evaluation of:

Accepted Answer

Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD)

Answer

Normal thresholds with poor speech-in-noise performance is a hallmark of central auditory processing disorder, which affects higher-level auditory analysis rather than peripheral sensitivity.

Question 5

What is the primary reason bone conduction testing bypasses the outer and middle ear?

Accepted Answer

Vibration transmitted through the skull directly stimulates the cochlea without passing through the outer or middle ear

Answer

Bone conduction vibrations travel through the skull and directly set the cochlear fluids into motion, bypassing the outer and middle ear entirely.

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS Hearing Loss Assessment 5