Which tests constitute an appropriate hearing test for dispensing hearing aids?

• A. Pure tone air conduction
• B. Bone conduction
• C. Pure tone air conduction and bone conduction
• D. Visual otoscopy

Answer: (C)

A hearing test for dispensing hearing aids should measure thresholds with both air conduction and bone conduction. Air-conduction testing evaluates overall hearing sensitivity through the entire ear pathway (outer, middle, and inner ear), while bone-conduction testing bypasses the outer and middle ear to isolate inner-ear function. Comparing these results lets you determine the type of hearing loss (conductive, sensorineural, or mixed) and the degree of loss, which is essential for deciding if amplification is appropriate and how to configure the hearing aids. Visual otoscopy, while important for checking the ear canal before fitting, does not assess hearing thresholds on its own. That combination—pure-tone air-conduction and bone-conduction testing—provides the necessary information for proper candidacy assessment.