Practice Questions: Chapter 4

Answered: Correct: Score:%

1. The major function of the middle ear is to:

A. transmit sound waves to the round window
B. protect the inner ear from over stimulation
C. create a middle ear resonance for low frequency sounds
D. overcome the impedance mismatch between air and cochlear fluid
E. to perform bone conduction

2. Normal Eustachian tube function serves to:

A. attenuate potentially damaging high-intensity sounds
B. drain fluid from the middle ear
C. keep the tympanic membrane taut
D. keep an equal atmospheric pressure on either side of the tympanic membrane
E. create a low-frequency resonance

3. Conductive hearing loss:

A. can usually be treated by sound amplification
B. is created by compression of the auditory nerve
C. can usually be ignored in children
D. may result from the administration of aminoglycoside antibiotics
E. can not be detected by standard audiometric testing

4. In early otosclerosis in which there is increased stiffness of the oscicular chain at the stapediovestibular junction one would expect to find:

A. increase static pressure in the middle ear cavity
B. decreased sensivity to low frequencies
C. decreased sensitivity to high frequencies
D. no significant difference in the threshold of hearing
E. A hearing loss of about 26 dB at all frequencies

5. A 73 year old man notes right-sided nasal obstruction and a right-sided hearing loss. Physical examination reveals a malignant mass in the nasopharynx that occludes the Eustachian tube orifice. The hearing loss associated with this abnormality is due to:

A. altered mechanical resonance due to decreased mass of the ossicular chain
B. an air-fluid interface at the tympanic membrane
C. altered areal ratio of the tympanic membrane and oval window
D. altered mechanical resonance due to increased stiffness of the ossicular chain

6. A 12 year old boy has a large perforation of his right tympanic membrane due to repeated severe episodes of otitis media. The hearing loss associated with this abnormality is due to:

A. altered lever-arm ratio of the malleus and incus.
B. altered mechanical resonance due to increased mass
C. altered areal ratio of the tympanic membrane and oval window
D. altered mechanical resonance due to increased stiffness