When must bone conduction be masked?

Bone conduction should be masked when there is a 15 dB difference between the air conduction threshold of the better ear and the bone conduction threshold of the poorer ear. This masking is necessary to prevent cross-hearing, which can occur if there is a significant difference in hearing levels between the ears. By masking, it ensures that the test only evaluates the specific ear being tested without interference from the other ear picking up sounds, which could lead to inaccurate results.

In this context, the establishment of a 15 dB difference is based on standard practices in audiometry, aiming to ensure the reliability and validity of hearing assessments. Therefore, recognizing and applying the 15 dB threshold is essential for effective and accurate hearing evaluations.