International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

What characterizes a flat audiogram?

1. Thresholds are significantly better at high frequencies

2. Thresholds are significantly worse at mid-range frequencies

3. Thresholds are almost equal at all frequencies

4. Thresholds show a gradual decline in higher frequencies

The correct answer is: Thresholds are almost equal at all frequencies

A flat audiogram is characterized by thresholds that are almost equal across all frequencies. This means that an individual's ability to hear tones at low, mid, and high frequencies is relatively uniform, with minimal variation in hearing sensitivity. Such a pattern is often indicative of certain types of hearing loss or auditory conditions where there is no significant preference or decline in hearing ability across different frequency ranges. The other options describe different patterns of hearing that indicate fluctuations in hearing sensitivity. For example, significantly better thresholds at high frequencies suggest a configuration that typically indicates some form of hearing loss, often leading to a "sloping" audiogram appearance. Similarly, thresholds that are worse at mid-range frequencies may point toward specific types of auditory issues or conditions affecting those frequencies. Lastly, a gradual decline in higher frequencies usually portrays a typical high-frequency hearing loss, which is common in aging or exposure to loud sounds, leading to a sloping audiogram rather than a flat one. Each of these scenarios demonstrates a variation in hearing sensitivity, which contrasts sharply with the consistent thresholds observed in a flat audiogram.