Hearing Loss, Audiology Foundations, and Aural Rehabilitation
This domain tests audiometric interpretation, hearing-loss classification, and rehabilitation planning with speech-language therapy.
Core rules
- Conductive hearing loss involves outer or middle ear pathology; sensorineural loss involves cochlea or auditory nerve; mixed loss has both.
- Audiograms plot dB HL by frequency. Bone-conduction thresholds near normal with elevated air-conduction thresholds indicate conductive loss. Speech recognition and tympanometry add function and middle-ear information.
- Aural rehabilitation includes communication strategies, hearing aid or cochlear implant support, environmental modification, and listening training. Children need early language access and family-centered intervention.
Worked example
Air-conduction thresholds are 50 dB at 500 Hz, 60 dB at 1000 Hz, and 65 dB at 2000 Hz; bone-conduction thresholds are 10-15 dB. The air-bone gap indicates conductive hearing loss. Do not counsel a sensorineural loss. Refer for middle-ear evaluation, consider medical management, and provide classroom accommodations and communication strategies while monitoring speech and language.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing dB HL with dB SPL.
- Ignoring masking and overcalling a conductive loss.
- Interpreting otoacoustic emissions or tympanometry as a full hearing diagnosis.
- Providing hearing aids without rehabilitation and family training.