American Journal of Audiology
Clinical Prevalence and Impact of False Air–Bone Gaps in Clinical Audiometry: A Study of 1,000 Ears
Purpose: Accurate hearing loss classification depends on air–bone relationships; however, “false” air–bone gaps (ABGs) in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) frequently compromise diagnostic clarity. By shifting the focus from ABG magnitude to clinical prevalence, this study uses the prevalence of clinical ABGs (≥ 15 dB) as a primary metric to quantify diagnostic ambiguity in routine practice and to evaluate the efficacy of bone-conduction (BC) testing at frequencies where frequent false ABGs occur. Method: We retros …