Which statement best describes pure tone audiometry as used in pediatric hearing screening?

• A. It can be administered by a nurse to a 5-year-old
• B. It requires sedation for accurate results
• C. It is exclusively conducted by audiologists
• D. It does not involve any behavioral response

Answer: (A)

Pure tone audiometry measures how softly a person can hear tones across different pitches by having them indicate when they hear a tone. For a five-year-old, this test can be effectively done by a nurse who has proper training, using a portable audiometer in a clinic or school setting with kid-friendly instructions. Sedation is not used in routine screening because it would change hearing responses and the child’s ability to participate. The test relies on the child’s behavioral response to determine whether the tone was heard, so the nurse’s role is to present tones and guide the child through signaling when they hear them. While audiologists often perform this test, it is not exclusive to them; trained nurses can administer screening tests to appropriate pediatric patients.