Question

A 75-year-old man visits your clinic accompanied by his wife who reports that he is having hearing difficulties. He denies hearing loss and reports that people around him "mumble too much." His ear canals are free of cerumen. Of the following screening tests you might use to assess the patient's hearing loss, which is the most reliable and valid?

1) Whisper test
2) Audioscopy using otoscope with built-in audiometer
3) Tuning fork test
4) Finger rub test
5) Weber and Rinne tests

Answer 1

The most reliable and valid screening test to assess hearing loss in this case is the Weber and Rinne tests using a tuning fork to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most reliable and valid screening test to assess the patient's hearing loss in this case would be the Weber and Rinne tests. These tests involve using a tuning fork to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

In the Weber test, the tuning fork is placed at the top of the skull, and if there is unilateral conductive hearing loss, the sound will appear louder in the ear with hearing loss. In the Rinne test, the tuning fork is placed on the mastoid process and then next to the ear canal. If the sound is not heard through the ear, it indicates a conductive hearing deficit.