OofM

PTA (Masking) Tutorial


The aim of this tutorial is to help you understand masking in Audiometry and how to apply the three rules of masking. It also introduces a web-based audiometry simulator tool that might help you to visualise where sounds go and how it all works. You should also take a look at the “Basic Audiometry Training Manual” by Mark DeRuiter which might help too. Please note that that book has American PTA symbols, which are different to those used in the UK (BSA procedures), which might confuse the matter somewhat. Figures with BSA symbols are provided for you to have separately when using the book. See this link HERE. It is recommended that you read the relevant chapters of the book along with other recommended reading for the course you are studying. There are also worked examples and questions within the book which aid learning. You do not need the book to work through the tutorials provided here. Using the book as a learning aid before going through this tutorial is recommended.

If you are on a clinical placement, or working in clinic team you could ask placement team member to help you run through this work.  Please contact me if you have difficulties viewing the video material.  Videos are hosted on Youtube (as unlisted videos), some NHS sites block Youtube.  It may be possible for me to provide the videos by other means.

How to use this tutorial

This tutorial is split in to three actions.
  • Section 1: Learn

    The first section "Learn" covers revision material on Masking theory. This section will cover: Underlying theory of cross-hearing and masking The rules of masking example audiograms with accompanying videos of masking procedure runthrough on a patient simulator.

  • Section 2: Active Learning task

    The second section "Active Learning task" will cover how to use the online audiometry simulator and example patients which require masking. You can actively perform masked PTA using the simulator and check your measured audiogram against the expected answer.

  • Section 3: Reflection and Summary

    The third section "Reflection and Summary" summaries the learning activities, and suggests how to identify where further study is required.

Click the title banner of the section to move to that section (it is strongly suggested that you work through the sections in order).

© 2017 Dr Tim Wilding, University of Manchester