A patient undergoing a pure tone audiometry test does not respond consistently at the same decibel level for the 1000 Hz frequency during multiple presentations. What is the MOST appropriate next step for the medical assistant to take?
Immediately refer the patient to an audiologist, as inconsistent responses suggest a profound hearing loss
Increase the frequency to 2000 Hz and test the patient's response at that level
Re-instruct the patient on how to respond and repeat the test for the 1000 Hz frequency
Recalibrate the audiometer as the inconsistent responses indicate equipment malfunction
The correct answer is to re-instruct the patient and repeat the test. If a patient shows inconsistent responses during an audiometric test, it may be due to misunderstanding the test instructions or not hearing the tone every time it's presented. The best course of action is to ensure that the patient clearly understands how to perform the test and what to expect, then to repeat the test to obtain accurate results. Administering a higher frequency test would not address the inconsistency at 1000 Hz, and recalibrating the audiometer is unnecessary without evidence of equipment failure. A referral to an audiologist is premature if the inconsistency can be resolved with clear instructions.
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