NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is performing an audiometry test on a patient. Which of the following instructions should the MA provide to the patient?
- A"Press this button only when the sound is loud."
- B"Tell me the number of beeps you hear in each ear."
- C"Raise your hand when you hear a sound, no matter how faint."
- D"Nod your head if you hear the tone clearly."
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. "Raise your hand when you hear a sound, no matter how faint."
The goal of audiometry is to determine the patient's hearing threshold. Instructing the patient to raise their hand for even the faintest sound ensures that the softest audible sounds are detected, providing an accurate assessment of hearing capabilities.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Instructing to press a button only for loud sounds would miss the patient's hearing threshold for softer sounds.
- B. Audiometry typically involves pure tones, not counting beeps, and the focus is on detection, not quantity.
- D. Nodding for clear tones is too subjective and does not help identify the faintest sound heard.
Audiometry Patient Instructions
Key directions given to a patient to ensure accurate and reliable results during an audiometry hearing test.
- Listen carefully for faint sounds.
- Signal even the softest sound.
- Standardized response (e.g., raise hand).
Memory trick: Audiometry Alert: Listen, Little, Lift!