IHS Patient Counseling and Rehabilitation 4

Question 1

A hearing aid wearer complains that their own voice sounds 'hollow' or 'like talking in a barrel.' This phenomenon is called:

Accepted Answer

The occlusion effect

Answer

The occlusion effect occurs when the ear canal is blocked, causing low-frequency bone-conducted vocal energy to resonate in the occluded space.

Question 2

Which of the following is the BEST example of an 'anticipatory strategy' for a patient with hearing loss?

Accepted Answer

Requesting a quiet table near the wall when making a restaurant reservation

Answer

Anticipatory strategies are proactive—taken before a communication situation—to optimize listening conditions before any breakdown occurs.

Question 3

A patient with tinnitus reports that it is most bothersome at bedtime in a quiet room. The MOST appropriate rehabilitation recommendation is:

Accepted Answer

Recommend low-level background sound (a fan, nature sounds, or a sound machine) at night

Answer

Sound enrichment reduces the contrast between tinnitus and silence, making tinnitus less perceptually prominent and improving sleep.

Question 4

During group aural rehabilitation, a patient becomes emotional when discussing the impact of hearing loss on family relationships. The facilitator should FIRST:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the patient's feelings and allow brief sharing before refocusing

Answer

Acknowledging emotions validates the patient's experience and fosters group cohesion before gently returning to the structured curriculum.

Question 5

The TELEGRAM approach to communication strategies emphasizes that T stands for:

Accepted Answer

Topic—informing the listener about the subject before speaking

Answer

In the TELEGRAM approach, T = Topic: announcing the conversation topic helps the listener with hearing loss use contextual cues to follow along.

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS Patient Counseling and Rehabilitation 4