Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

Based on audiometric results, which description fits a patient with 78 dB hearing loss in the right ear and 23 dB in the left ear?

1. Severe right hearing loss and minimal left hearing loss

2. Profound right hearing loss and mild left hearing loss

3. Moderately severe right hearing loss and normal left hearing

4. Severe right hearing loss and mild left hearing loss

The correct answer is: Severe right hearing loss and minimal left hearing loss

The chosen description accurately characterizes the patient's audiometric results outlined in the question. A 78 dB hearing loss in the right ear indicates a level of severity that falls within the range defined as severe hearing loss, which typically spans from 70 dB to 90 dB. In this case, a 78 dB loss clearly aligns with this classification. For the left ear, a hearing loss of just 23 dB is identified as minimal or mild hearing loss. Mild hearing loss generally encompasses thresholds that range from 20 dB to 40 dB. Thus, a 23 dB hearing loss effectively fits into the minimal hearing loss category. The combination of these classifications—severe right hearing loss and minimal left hearing loss—makes the response fitting and appropriate for describing the audiometric results of this patient. Understanding these severity levels is crucial in making informed clinical decisions and recommendations for intervention or management of the patient's hearing loss.