Ear and audiology: interaural attenuation: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

ENT · Ear and audiology: interaural attenuation

Sample item

In pure tone audiometry using supra-aural earphones, what is the approximate interaural attenuation for air conduction?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. About 40 dB

Sound at high intensity reaching the test ear crosses the skull to the opposite ear after losing about 40 dB with supra-aural earphones. For bone conduction, the attenuation is about 0 dB, so either cochlea may respond. Masking is needed when the difference exceeds this attenuation.

Option by option

  • A. About 80 dB

    80 dB overestimates the loss with ordinary earphones.

  • B. About 40 dB (correct)

    Correct. About 40 dB is lost across the skull.

  • C. About 0 dB

    A value near 0 dB applies to bone conduction.

  • D. About 100 dB

    100 dB is far greater than the real value.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, About 40 dB. Sound at high intensity reaching the test ear crosses the skull to the opposite ear after losing about 40 dB with supra-aural earphones.

Why is "About 80 dB" not the answer?

80 dB overestimates the loss with ordinary earphones.

Why is "About 0 dB" not the answer?

A value near 0 dB applies to bone conduction.

Why is "About 100 dB" not the answer?

100 dB is far greater than the real value.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: interaural attenuation in ENT. For bone conduction, the attenuation is about 0 dB, so either cochlea may respond. Masking is needed when the difference exceeds this attenuation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: interaural attenuation?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.