What does air conduction measure in audiometric testing?

Air conduction in audiometric testing specifically measures how well the ear detects and processes airborne sounds. When a sound is introduced through headphones or speakers, air conduction assesses the entire auditory pathway, which includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and auditory nerve. This method helps determine the overall sensitivity of hearing and can reveal whether the hearing impairment stems from conductive, sensorineural, or mixed causes.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect what air conduction testing specifically measures. The structural integrity of the ear canal is not evaluated through air conduction but rather through physical examination or imaging. Bone vibration responses pertain to bone conduction testing, which measures how sound is transmitted through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. The perception of speech clarity is related to various aspects of auditory processing and may involve more complex assessments beyond simple air conduction measurements. Hence, air conduction is crucial for determining basic hearing sensitivity to sounds transmitted through the air.