Pure-Tone Audiometry
Also written as: PTA — Pure-Tone Audiometry
A behavioral hearing test that measures an individual's hearing thresholds for pure tones at discrete frequencies to determine the degree and configuration of hearing loss.
Full Definition
Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) is the foundational diagnostic procedure in audiology, used to quantify hearing sensitivity across a standard frequency range (typically 250–8000 Hz for air conduction, 500–4000 Hz for bone conduction). The patient responds to tones presented via headphones or insert earphones (air conduction) and a bone oscillator placed on the mastoid (bone conduction). Results are plotted on an audiogram. Editors reviewing audiological reports should ensure that the test conditions, transducer type, and masking procedures are clearly described, and that air- and bone-conduction thresholds are not conflated.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as 'pure-tone audiometry' when used as a compound modifier. The abbreviation PTA is acceptable on second reference.
In Context
- "Pure-tone audiometry confirmed a moderate conductive hearing loss in the right ear." — Audiology clinic report
- "The methods section must specify whether pure-tone audiometry was conducted under insert earphones or supra-aural headphones." — Research manuscript