Which type of test is most often used to establish bone conduction thresholds?

The most appropriate choice for establishing bone conduction thresholds is pure-tone audiometry. This test involves presenting pure tones through headphones or bone conduction vibrators to assess an individual’s hearing ability. Specifically, bone conduction testing is conducted using a bone oscillator placed on the mastoid process or the forehead, which directly stimulates the cochlea bypassing the outer and middle ear. This method effectively evaluates the function of the inner ear and auditory nerve.

Pure-tone audiometry provides precise measurements of hearing sensitivity across various frequencies, helping to determine the degree of hearing loss and the type of hearing impairment present. This information is instrumental in diagnosing hearing conditions and tailoring appropriate interventions or treatments.

The other tests mentioned, while useful in different contexts, do not primarily focus on determining bone conduction thresholds. Tympanometry assesses the middle ear's function, speech audiometry evaluates a person's ability to understand speech, and otoacoustic emissions measure sound waves produced in the inner ear, which do not provide direct assessment of bone conduction thresholds.