NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is preparing to perform an audiometry test on a patient. Which of the following actions should the MA take to ensure accurate results?
- APlace the headphones loosely over the patient's ears.
- BBegin the test with the loudest possible sound volume.
- CInstruct the patient to hum gently during the test.
- DPerform the test in a quiet, sound-proof room.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Perform the test in a quiet, sound-proof room.
Accurate audiometry testing requires a controlled environment free from extraneous noise that could interfere with the patient's ability to hear the test tones. A quiet, sound-proof room minimizes ambient noise, ensuring that only the tones presented by the audiometer are perceived.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Headphones must be placed snugly to ensure proper sound transmission and prevent leakage of sound, which could lead to inaccurate results.
- B. The audiometry test typically starts with softer sounds and gradually increases or decreases in intensity to determine the patient's hearing threshold, not with the loudest volume.
- C. Humming or any vocalization by the patient would introduce noise and compromise the test's accuracy.
Audiometry Environment
The controlled acoustic conditions necessary for accurate measurement of a patient's hearing thresholds using an audiometer.
- Requires a quiet, sound-proof environment.
- Minimizes background noise interference.
- Ensures accurate perception of test tones.
Memory trick: To hear the 'sound truth', a 'silent booth' is a must for audiometry.