Name one difference between a screening and a diagnostic test.
Screening:
-Test large numbers of subjects
-Test simply and efficiently
- Detect indicators of HL for referral
Diagnostic Testing:
-Test specific individuals identified at risk
-Test in detail and at greater cost
-Establish presence or absence of HL / definitive diagnosis
T/F: If a child passes a school hearing screening, they have hearing WNL.
False: School screenings are not comprehensive and may miss certain types of hearing loss,
-10 to 25 dB
What is the “gold standard” test for assessing infant hearing?
The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test.
What dB range represents profound hearing loss in adults?
Over 90 dB
What is CPA and what population is it the preferred testing method?
Conditioned Play Audiometry; typically used for preschoolers
Hearing loss affecting one side of the ear is known as _____ hearing loss.
unilateral
Typical hearing for children is between _____ and _____ db.
-10dB - 15dB
Why is OAE screening NOT the preferred test of choice of NBHS?
BONUS (+100): What is the preferred test for NBHS?
Why is OAE screening NOT the preferred test of choice of NBHS?
BONUS (+100): What is the preferred test for NBHS?
A patient who feigns a HL to get out of a responsibility is called a ________; we would want to use _________ testing to test the validity of their claim.
A patient who feigns a hearing loss to get out of a responsibility is called a malingerer; we would want to use Stenger testing to test the validity of their claim.
What is the purpose of the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test in newborn screenings?
ex: To assess the auditory nerve and brainstem response to sound, identifying hearing thresholds and potential neural pathway issues.
Explain the 3 types of tympanogram results (Type A, B and C)
Type A=TM movement WNL
– Indicative of normal middle ear function
- peak at about 0
Type B=NO TM movement
– With normal ear canal volume, indicative of: Fluid in ME (most common) or Fixed ossicles
– With large ear canal volume, indicative of:Perforation in TM or Patent (open) PE tube
-flat line
Type C=TM retraction
– Indicative of Eustachian tube dysfunction
-peak at less than 0
Name one reason a child would be referred to an audiologist after a school hearing screening.
- 30dB HL or greater at 2 or more frequencies on 2 consecutive tests at least 2 and no more than 6 weeks apart*
-OR-
40dB HL or greater at 1 frequency on 2 consecutive tests at least 2 and no more than 6 weeks apart*
-OR-
Evidence of pathology
Referral for “medical-audiological” examination *CCS (CA Children’s Services – must be more than 6 weeks apart)
Describe the difference between air conduction and bone conduction.
Air conduction tests:
–Sound transmission through OE, ME, and IE
–Everyday hearing
Bone conduction tests:
–Sound transmission through skull directly to IE
–Without effect of OE and ME
–Best potential of cochlea(e)
What structures are affected in a conductive hearing loss?
Involves structures (OE and ME) which conduct sound to cochlea
What type of testing bypasses the outer and middle ear to assess the inner ear directly through vibrations on the mastoid?
Tympanometry
Describe the Stenger Test (how we test people who are faking a hearing loss)
BONUS (+100): What do we call someone who is faking a hearing loss?
Louder input, but below “threshold” in poorer ear
■ If telling truth, should be too quiet to hear
Quieter input, but above threshold in better ear
■ If telling truth, should be easily audible
BONUS: malingerer
In air-bone gap assessments, if air conduction thresholds are poorer than bone conduction thresholds but still not within normal limits, the hearing loss is classified as:
Precipitous
b/c: indicates a sharp decline in hearing sensitivity at high frequencies while low frequencies remain unaffected.
Why is early intervention important for infants with hearing loss?
Early intervention supports critical auditory brain development and helps prevent delays in speech, language, and cognitive skills.