What are indications for conducting manual audiometry?

Conducting manual audiometry is particularly indicated in situations where there is no response from the subject and when unilateral hearing loss is suspected. This method relies on the audiologist's skill in generating sounds and interpreting responses, which can be essential in assessing cases where automatic audiometric techniques may fail to provide reliable results.

In instances of unilateral hearing loss—where one ear does not hear as well as the other—manual audiometry allows the clinician to carefully tailor the testing process according to the specific responses elicited. This is crucial as it provides valuable insights into the patient’s auditory capabilities on each side individually, potentially revealing issues that would otherwise go unnoticed in a more automated context.

The other scenarios listed may involve different considerations, such as broad patterns of hearing loss or functional problems, but they do not specifically highlight the combination of a lack of response and unilateral loss that necessitates a more hands-on approach to audiometric assessment.