What is Bone-Conduction Thresholds?

Bone-conduction thresholds are the lowest level that an individual can hear a pure-tone stimulus presented through a vibrator placed on the mastoid bone or forehead. Bone-conduction threshold testing attempts to assess the ability of the sensory and neural auditory systems without the sound passing through the outer and middle ear

What is the range for bone conduction audiometry?

Bone conduction thresholds typically range from 0 to 120 decibels (dB). Normal bone conduction thresholds are between 0 and 25 dB. Thresholds that are higher than 25 dB may indicate a hearing loss.

Are bone conduction thresholds better than air conduction thresholds?

Bone conduction thresholds are not necessarily better than air conduction thresholds. In some cases, bone conduction thresholds may be better than air conduction thresholds, but in other cases, air conduction thresholds may be better than bone conduction thresholds. The best way to determine which type of threshold is more accurate is to conduct both air conduction and bone conduction testing.

What are thresholds in audiology?

In audiology, thresholds refer to the softest sound that a person can hear at a given frequency. Thresholds are measured in decibels (dB).

What is the difference between air and bone conduction thresholds?

The difference between air and bone conduction thresholds is called the air-bone gap. The air-bone gap is a measure of how much sound is lost as it travels through the outer and middle ear. A large air-bone gap may indicate a problem with the outer or middle ear.

Conclusion

Bone-conduction thresholds are an important part of audiological assessment. They can help to identify hearing loss and to determine the type and severity of hearing loss. Bone-conduction thresholds can also be used to monitor the progression of hearing loss over time.