Unaided Thresholds
A patient's hearing sensitivity levels measured without any amplification device in place, serving as the baseline against which aided outcomes are compared.
Full Definition
Unaided thresholds are the pure-tone or speech detection thresholds obtained during standard audiometric evaluation with no hearing aid, cochlear implant processor, or other amplification fitted. They form the foundational baseline in an audiological assessment record and are plotted on the audiogram using conventional symbols (circles for the right ear, crosses for the left). In outcome measurement and research, unaided thresholds are compared with aided thresholds to calculate functional gain and other benefit metrics. Editors must ensure that 'unaided' and 'aided' are applied consistently and not interchanged, as errors carry significant clinical implications.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as a compound modifier before a noun ('unaided-threshold measurement') but not in predicative position ('thresholds obtained unaided'). Do not confuse with 'unmasked thresholds', which refers to a different procedural distinction.
In Context
- "Unaided thresholds in the right ear ranged from 45 dB HL at 500 Hz to 75 dB HL at 4000 Hz." — Audiological Assessment Report
- "The research protocol required unaided thresholds to be obtained within four weeks of the aided outcome measures." — Clinical Research Protocol