Ear and audiology: functional hearing loss testing: 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: functional hearing loss testing

Sample item

An adult claims profound deafness after a minor accident. Pure-tone audiometry shows a severe loss, but the person follows ordinary conversation, and speech reception threshold is much better than the pure-tone average. Which test best establishes the true thresholds?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Auditory brainstem response audiometry

A large mismatch between speech and pure-tone thresholds suggests non-organic hearing loss. Objective electrophysiological tests such as ABR (and otoacoustic emissions) do not depend on the person's responses and give an estimate of the real threshold. Tuning fork tests and tympanometry are normal in this condition and so do not quantify hearing.

Option by option

  • A. Auditory brainstem response audiometry (correct)

    Correct. ABR is objective and does not need voluntary responses.

  • B. Weber test

    Weber lateralisation is also subjective and can be inconsistent.

  • C. Tympanometry

    Tympanometry assesses the middle ear and will be normal here.

  • D. Repeat Rinne test with a 512 Hz fork

    A Rinne test depends on the person's reported perception and can be feigned.

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 A, Auditory brainstem response audiometry. A large mismatch between speech and pure-tone thresholds suggests non-organic hearing loss.

Why is "Weber test" not the answer?

Weber lateralisation is also subjective and can be inconsistent.

Why is "Tympanometry" not the answer?

Tympanometry assesses the middle ear and will be normal here.

Why is "Repeat Rinne test with a 512 Hz fork" not the answer?

A Rinne test depends on the person's reported perception and can be feigned.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: functional hearing loss testing in ENT. Objective electrophysiological tests such as ABR (and otoacoustic emissions) do not depend on the person's responses and give an estimate of the real threshold. Tuning fork tests and tympanometry are normal in this condition and so do not quantify hearing.

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: functional hearing loss testing?

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.