Audiometry and Spirometry Testing Training

Lesson 1 • Respiratory Muscles and Mechanics

Explains diaphragm, intercostal, and accessory muscle roles in breathing effort. Links muscle function to forced expiratory manoeuvre quality during spirometry.

Lesson 2 • Upper and Lower Airway Anatomy

Identifies nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and alveoli relevant to airflow measurement. Provides structural basis for understanding spirometric lung volumes.

Lesson 3 • Physiological Basis of Sound and Airflow

Introduces sound wave properties and airflow dynamics as measurable physical phenomena. Grounds students in the physics underlying both audiometric and spirometric measurements.

Lesson 4 • Inner Ear and Auditory Nerve Pathways

Examines cochlear structure, hair cell function, and neural transmission to the auditory cortex. Connects inner ear physiology to sensorineural hearing loss patterns.

Lesson 1 • Sound Measurement and the Audiogram

Defines frequency, intensity, and hearing threshold level as plotted on the audiogram grid. Students read and orient a standard audiogram before performing any testing.

Lesson 2 • Occupational Hearing Conservation Context

Situates audiometric screening within workplace noise exposure monitoring and hearing conservation programmes. Students connect test results to occupational health surveillance goals.

Lesson 3 • Hearing Loss Classification Systems

Presents degree and type classifications of hearing loss using threshold averages. Students apply classification criteria to audiogram data to describe client hearing status.

Lesson 4 • Types of Audiometric Tests

Distinguishes pure-tone air conduction, bone conduction, speech audiometry, and immittance screening. Each test type is linked to the hearing pathway component it evaluates.

Lesson 1 • Masking Principles and Application

Explains cross-hearing, interaural attenuation, and the plateau method for effective masking. Students calculate masking levels and apply them during air and bone conduction tests.

Lesson 2 • Bone Conduction Testing Technique

Instructs oscillator placement, forehead versus mastoid positioning, and masking necessity. Students determine when bone conduction is required and apply correct masking levels.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Test Patient Preparation

Covers otoscopic inspection, noise exposure history, and patient instruction protocols. Proper preparation reduces test errors and ensures valid threshold measurements.

Lesson 4 • Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflex Testing

Guides probe tip selection, seal verification, and tympanogram interpretation by curve type. Students classify tympanograms and identify acoustic reflex presence or absence.

Lesson 1 • Documenting and Reporting Findings

Establishes standards for audiometric report content, terminology, and referral recommendations. Students draft reports that meet occupational health and clinical documentation requirements.

Lesson 2 • Speech Audiometry Result Interpretation

Interprets speech recognition threshold and word recognition score in relation to pure-tone findings. Students identify agreement or discrepancy between speech and pure-tone results.

Lesson 3 • Identifying Audiogram Patterns

Teaches recognition of flat, sloping, notched, and rising audiogram configurations. Pattern recognition guides differential interpretation and appropriate referral decisions.

Lesson 4 • Differentiating Hearing Loss Types

Uses air-bone gap analysis to distinguish conductive, sensorineural, and mixed losses. Students apply decision rules to audiogram data to assign the correct loss type.

Lesson 1 • Key Spirometric Parameters

Introduces FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow as primary diagnostic indices. Students explain the clinical significance of each parameter before performing tests.

Lesson 2 • Obstructive and Restrictive Patterns Overview

Introduces the physiological basis of obstructive and restrictive ventilatory defects. Students distinguish pattern types conceptually before applying interpretation criteria in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Spirometry Equipment Types

Compares volume-displacement and flow-sensing spirometer designs, including turbine and pneumotachograph types. Students select appropriate equipment based on clinical setting and test requirements.

Lesson 4 • Reference Values and Predicted Normals

Explains how age, height, sex, and ethnicity determine predicted normal spirometric values. Students apply reference equations to calculate percent-predicted values for patient results.

Lesson 1 • Acceptability and Repeatability Criteria

Applies published criteria for start-of-test, end-of-test, and between-manoeuvre reproducibility. Students evaluate each trial and determine when sufficient acceptable manoeuvres are obtained.

Lesson 2 • Performing the Forced Vital Capacity Manoeuvre

Teaches maximal inhalation, blast start, sustained effort, and end-of-test criteria for the FVC manoeuvre. Students coach patients through each phase to achieve acceptable effort.

Lesson 3 • Slow Vital Capacity and MVV Manoeuvres

Instructs slow vital capacity technique and maximum voluntary ventilation as supplementary manoeuvres. Students identify when each adds diagnostic value beyond the standard FVC test.

Lesson 4 • Equipment Calibration and Quality Control

Establishes daily calibration verification, leak testing, and biological control procedures for spirometers. Students perform and document calibration checks before each testing session.

Lesson 1 • Classifying Ventilatory Patterns

Uses FEV1/FVC ratio and FVC percent-predicted to classify obstructive, restrictive, and mixed patterns. Students apply a stepwise algorithm to reach a pattern classification from test values.

Lesson 2 • Flow-Volume Loop Analysis

Interprets flow-volume loop shape to identify effort, obstruction, restriction, and upper airway patterns. Students recognise characteristic loop morphologies that supplement numerical interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Grading Severity of Impairment

Applies FEV1 percent-predicted thresholds to grade obstruction severity from mild to very severe. Students assign severity grades and link them to clinical management implications.

Lesson 4 • Selecting the Best Test Values

Applies rules for selecting the largest FVC and FEV1 from acceptable manoeuvres for reporting. Students distinguish best-value selection from the single best-manoeuvre approach.

Lesson 1 • Infection Control and Equipment Hygiene

Establishes disinfection protocols for audiometric and spirometric equipment between patients. Students apply appropriate cleaning levels based on device contact classification.

Lesson 2 • Simulated Case-Based Testing Sessions

Applies audiometric and spirometric procedures to standardised patient scenarios with varied presentations. Students manage test sequencing, coaching, and real-time decision-making under supervision.

Lesson 3 • Programme-Level Quality Assurance

Establishes metrics for monitoring tester performance, equipment calibration trends, and data completeness. Students design a quality assurance checklist applicable to their testing programme.

Lesson 4 • Referral Pathways and Follow-Up Protocols

Defines criteria triggering referral to audiology, pulmonology, or occupational medicine specialists. Students apply decision trees to case data to initiate appropriate follow-up actions.