International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

How is the pure tone average calculated?

1. By averaging the thresholds of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz

2. By finding the sum of 500, 1000, and 2000 and dividing by 3

3. By calculating the sum of all frequencies and dividing by 4

4. By measuring thresholds from the lowest to highest frequency

The correct answer is: By finding the sum of 500, 1000, and 2000 and dividing by 3

The correct calculation of the pure tone average (PTA) is determined by taking the average of the thresholds at specific frequencies. The standard frequencies used for this measurement, which reflects a person's hearing sensitivity, are 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. To find the PTA, you add the thresholds at these frequencies together and then divide by 3. This provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's hearing ability in the speech frequencies that are most critical for understanding spoken language. Option A, while close, includes 4000 Hz, which is not part of the most common PTA calculation. Option C incorrectly uses a different set of frequencies and implies including more frequencies than necessary for the PTA, while dividing by 4 does not accurately reflect the standard procedure. Option D does not specify a particular averaging method and suggests a range of measurements without concrete calculations, which does not fit the defined method for calculating PTA.