| A | B |
|---|
| Pure tone average | average of pure tone thresholds @ 500, 1000, & 2000 Hz in each ear |
| degree of hearing loss | category range from best to worst threshold in each ear |
| normal hearing for adults | -10 to 25 dB HL |
| normal hearing for children | -10 to 15 dB HL |
| < | bone conduction symbol right ear |
| > | bone conduction symbol left ear |
| X | air conduction symbol left ear |
| O | air conduction symbol right ear |
| bone conduction thresholds | represent sensorineural sensitivity |
| acceptable pure tone test-retest reliability | +/- 5 dB |
| audiometer | instrument used to measure hearing thresholds |
| Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI) | assesses patient's perception of hearing-related communicaton problems |
| hearing threshold | lowest intensity level (dB HL) at which listener can detect a sound |
| low hearing threshold value | reflects good hearing sensitivity |
| high hearing threshold value | reflects poorer hearing sensitivity |
| dB HL | unit of sound intensity, y-axis on audiogram |
| pure tone | sound with one frequency (of vibration) |
| 1000 to 4000 Hz | humans are most sensitive at this frequency range |
| mild hearing loss | difficulty primarily with faint speech |
| moderate hearing loss | frequent difficulties with average level speech |
| functional assessment | type of test that describes the impact of hearing loss on daily function |
| chief complaint | primary reason for patient's visit to audiologist |
| conductive hearing loss | dysfunction of outer/middle ear |
| sensorineural hearing loss | dysfunction of inner ear/auditory portion of nervous system |
| SRT unit | dB HL |
| Word Recognition Score unit | % correct |
| Speech recognition threshold | lowest intensity where speech understood 50% of time |
| spondee | 2 syllable word, equal emphasis on each syllable, used for SRT |
| presentation level for maximum WRS, flat hearing loss | 40 dB SL (40 dB above SRT) |
| SRT consistent with pure tone testing | + or - 10 dB of PTA |
| SDT consistent with pure tone testing | + or - 5 dB of best threshold between 250 & 4000 Hz |
| SDT | speech detection threshold, lowest dB HL where speech can be detected |
| response for SDT | raise hand, push button |
| response for SRT | repeat word, point to picture representing word |
| sound field testing | sound is presented to patient through loudspeakers (earphones not used) |
| rollover | when word recognition score decreases at higher intensity, sign of retrocochlear pathology |
