International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

Which term describes the perception of significantly different pitches in each ear?

1. Binaural fitting

2. Dipalcusis

3. Auditory deprivation

4. BiCROS

The correct answer is: Dipalcusis

Dipalcusis is the term that describes the perception of significantly different pitches in each ear. This phenomenon occurs when two sounds of different frequencies are presented to each ear, leading to a perceptual difference that can result in the listener experiencing a form of pitch confusion or dissonance. Dipalcusis can affect how sound is localized and understood, especially in individuals with hearing impairments or asymmetrical hearing loss. The other terms relate to different concepts. Binaural fitting refers to the fitting of hearing aids or devices to both ears and does not pertain to pitch perception between the ears. Auditory deprivation describes the effects that can arise from a lack of auditory stimulation, which could impact overall auditory processing but does not specifically address pitch differences. BiCROS refers to a specific type of hearing aid configuration used for individuals with unilateral hearing loss, where sound from the poorer ear is transmitted to the better ear, but it does not signify the perception of different pitches in each ear.