play audiometry
A conditioned behavioural hearing test for young children (approximately 2.5–5 years) in which the child performs a play task—such as dropping a block—in response to a tone.
Full Definition
Play audiometry, also called conditioned play audiometry (CPA), is a behavioural hearing assessment technique adapted for preschool-age children who can follow simple instructions but are not yet able to cooperate with standard adult audiometry. The child is conditioned to perform a repetitive, game-like motor task (e.g., placing a peg in a board) each time they detect a test tone. This technique enables ear-specific, frequency-specific threshold estimation at ages when VRA is no longer appropriate. Editors should ensure the technique is not referred to generically as 'behavioural audiometry' when the specific method is known, as precision aids clinical interpretation. The term is sometimes hyphenated as 'play-audiometry'; editorial house style should be applied consistently.
Usage
Usage note: Not hyphenated in most major style guides. Specify whether testing was conducted under headphones, with insert earphones, or in sound field for clinical accuracy.
In Context
- "Play audiometry confirmed a bilateral moderate hearing loss, consistent with the results of earlier ASSR testing." — Paediatric audiology progress note
- "The author used 'conditioned play audiometry' and 'play audiometry' interchangeably; the editor standardised to the latter throughout." — Copy-editing log