Ear and audiology: hearing aid choice by degree of loss: 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.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: hearing aid choice by degree of loss

Sample item

A 75-year-old with severe bilateral sensorineural loss and poor manual dexterity needs a hearing aid. Which style is generally preferred for severe loss and easy handling?

ACompletely-in-the-canal aidBBehind-the-ear aid with a custom earmouldCAuditory brainstem implantDBone anchored aid on a softband

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Behind-the-ear aid with a custom earmould

Behind-the-ear aids house larger batteries and amplifiers, so they provide high gain for severe loss and have bigger controls that are easy to handle. A custom earmould reduces acoustic feedback. Completely-in-the-canal devices are small, give limited gain and are suited to mild to moderate loss.

Option by option

A. Completely-in-the-canal aid
In-the-canal aids give limited gain and are hard to manipulate.
B. Behind-the-ear aid with a custom earmould (correct)
Correct. High gain and ease of handling favour a behind-the-ear aid.
C. Auditory brainstem implant
A brainstem implant is for absent cochlear nerve and not for this case.
D. Bone anchored aid on a softband
A softband bone aid is used for conductive loss or atresia.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Behind-the-ear aid with a custom earmould. Behind-the-ear aids house larger batteries and amplifiers, so they provide high gain for severe loss and have bigger controls that are easy to handle.

Why is "Completely-in-the-canal aid" not the answer?

In-the-canal aids give limited gain and are hard to manipulate.

Why is "Auditory brainstem implant" not the answer?

A brainstem implant is for absent cochlear nerve and not for this case.

Why is "Bone anchored aid on a softband" not the answer?

A softband bone aid is used for conductive loss or atresia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: hearing aid choice by degree of loss in ENT. A custom earmould reduces acoustic feedback. Completely-in-the-canal devices are small, give limited gain and are suited to mild to moderate loss.

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: hearing aid choice by degree of loss?

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.