CAOHC COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Formable Earplugs are: - ✔✔Disposable when no longer return to shape and soiled
✔✔Pre-formed earplugs: - ✔✔Can be washed with mild soap and water and reusable
✔✔Noise muff cushions - ✔✔Should completely cover ear and seal against the face;
cushions should be replaced when damaged and no longer seal effectively.
✔✔Hearing Aids and Hearing Test - ✔✔Tests are to be done without hearing aids
✔✔Function of the Outer Ear - ✔✔Collecting sound and sending it to the eardrum
through the auditory canal
✔✔Function of the Middle Ear - ✔✔Amplification of sound; lever action of the ossicular
chain and the mismatch in size of eardrum and oval window amplify sound about 10
times
✔✔Function of the Inner Ear - ✔✔Convert mechanical sound waves to neural impulses
that can be recognized by the brain for hearing and balance
✔✔This type of hearing loss is treatable - ✔✔Conductive hearing loss
✔✔When sound presented to the poorer ear crosses through the skull and is picked up
by the better ear, this phenomenon is referred to as: - ✔✔Crossover
✔✔The Action Level for OSHA and NIOSH is: - ✔✔85 dBA TWA
✔✔Weighting scale required by OSHA for Hearing Conservation Program Noise
Assessments: - ✔✔'A' weighted scale; response resembles how the human ear
responds to sound (humans hear best from 500-4000 Hz)
✔✔This weighting scale is best for determining hearing protection attenuation - ✔✔C
weighted scale; has a flat response with all frequencies equally weighted
✔✔This Hearing Conservation Regulation is the minimum standard - ✔✔OSHA Noise
Amendment
✔✔Best audiometer for testing multiple stations - ✔✔Microprocessor Audiometer
✔✔Best audiometer for testing difficult-to-test patients - ✔✔Manual Audiometer
, ✔✔Calibration of audiometer performed daily with a electroacoustic simulator or human
ear is called a: - ✔✔Biologic calibration
✔✔A check of audiometer performed daily to ensure there are no intermittent problems
with hardware is called a: - ✔✔Functional Check
✔✔ Unit of measurement for frequency (pitch) - ✔✔Hertz (Hz)
✔✔Unit of measurement for intensity (loudness) - ✔✔Decibel (dB)
✔✔Risk of damage from noise - ✔✔How loud (intensity) and how long (duration)
✔✔Steady-state or continuous noise, e.g. generator - ✔✔Lasts 1 second or longer
✔✔Impulse or Impact noise, e.g. gunfire or nail gun - ✔✔Lasts less than one second
✔✔Parts of the outer ear - ✔✔Pinna and external auditory canal
✔✔Parts of the middle ear - ✔✔Tympanic membrane, ossicles, eustachian tube
✔✔Eustachian tube (auditory tube) - ✔✔Tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx
and equalizes middle ear space with atmospheric pressure
✔✔Conductive HL occurs here - ✔✔Outer or middle ear
✔✔Sensorineural hearing loss - ✔✔Hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear
(cochlea) or the auditory nerve
✔✔Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - ✔✔Condition caused by the destruction of hair
cells in the inner ear, the organs responsible for hearing, as a result of sounds that are
"too long, too loud, or too close"; a sensorineural hearing loss
✔✔Mixed hearing loss - ✔✔Combination of conductive and sensorineural types in the
same ear
✔✔Middle ear bones (ossicles) - ✔✔Malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup)
✔✔Possible early symptoms/signs of noise induced hearing loss - ✔✔Tinnitus; difficulty
understanding in presence of background noise; read visual cues
✔✔Auditory effects of noise - ✔✔NIHL; tinnitus; hyperacusis
✔✔Non-auditory effects of noise - ✔✔annoyance
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Formable Earplugs are: - ✔✔Disposable when no longer return to shape and soiled
✔✔Pre-formed earplugs: - ✔✔Can be washed with mild soap and water and reusable
✔✔Noise muff cushions - ✔✔Should completely cover ear and seal against the face;
cushions should be replaced when damaged and no longer seal effectively.
✔✔Hearing Aids and Hearing Test - ✔✔Tests are to be done without hearing aids
✔✔Function of the Outer Ear - ✔✔Collecting sound and sending it to the eardrum
through the auditory canal
✔✔Function of the Middle Ear - ✔✔Amplification of sound; lever action of the ossicular
chain and the mismatch in size of eardrum and oval window amplify sound about 10
times
✔✔Function of the Inner Ear - ✔✔Convert mechanical sound waves to neural impulses
that can be recognized by the brain for hearing and balance
✔✔This type of hearing loss is treatable - ✔✔Conductive hearing loss
✔✔When sound presented to the poorer ear crosses through the skull and is picked up
by the better ear, this phenomenon is referred to as: - ✔✔Crossover
✔✔The Action Level for OSHA and NIOSH is: - ✔✔85 dBA TWA
✔✔Weighting scale required by OSHA for Hearing Conservation Program Noise
Assessments: - ✔✔'A' weighted scale; response resembles how the human ear
responds to sound (humans hear best from 500-4000 Hz)
✔✔This weighting scale is best for determining hearing protection attenuation - ✔✔C
weighted scale; has a flat response with all frequencies equally weighted
✔✔This Hearing Conservation Regulation is the minimum standard - ✔✔OSHA Noise
Amendment
✔✔Best audiometer for testing multiple stations - ✔✔Microprocessor Audiometer
✔✔Best audiometer for testing difficult-to-test patients - ✔✔Manual Audiometer
, ✔✔Calibration of audiometer performed daily with a electroacoustic simulator or human
ear is called a: - ✔✔Biologic calibration
✔✔A check of audiometer performed daily to ensure there are no intermittent problems
with hardware is called a: - ✔✔Functional Check
✔✔ Unit of measurement for frequency (pitch) - ✔✔Hertz (Hz)
✔✔Unit of measurement for intensity (loudness) - ✔✔Decibel (dB)
✔✔Risk of damage from noise - ✔✔How loud (intensity) and how long (duration)
✔✔Steady-state or continuous noise, e.g. generator - ✔✔Lasts 1 second or longer
✔✔Impulse or Impact noise, e.g. gunfire or nail gun - ✔✔Lasts less than one second
✔✔Parts of the outer ear - ✔✔Pinna and external auditory canal
✔✔Parts of the middle ear - ✔✔Tympanic membrane, ossicles, eustachian tube
✔✔Eustachian tube (auditory tube) - ✔✔Tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx
and equalizes middle ear space with atmospheric pressure
✔✔Conductive HL occurs here - ✔✔Outer or middle ear
✔✔Sensorineural hearing loss - ✔✔Hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear
(cochlea) or the auditory nerve
✔✔Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - ✔✔Condition caused by the destruction of hair
cells in the inner ear, the organs responsible for hearing, as a result of sounds that are
"too long, too loud, or too close"; a sensorineural hearing loss
✔✔Mixed hearing loss - ✔✔Combination of conductive and sensorineural types in the
same ear
✔✔Middle ear bones (ossicles) - ✔✔Malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup)
✔✔Possible early symptoms/signs of noise induced hearing loss - ✔✔Tinnitus; difficulty
understanding in presence of background noise; read visual cues
✔✔Auditory effects of noise - ✔✔NIHL; tinnitus; hyperacusis
✔✔Non-auditory effects of noise - ✔✔annoyance
