An audiometric finding showing an ABG of 15 dB from 1000 through 4000 Hz indicates what?

An audiometric finding demonstrating an Air-Bone Gap (ABG) of 15 dB from 1000 through 4000 Hz suggests a potential issue with the ear canal's structural integrity. A collapsing ear canal can occur, particularly in patients with a history of bilateral ear canal collapse. When pressure is applied to the ear during testing, the canal may close, leading to a false representation of hearing ability. This condition can result in a measurable air-bone gap without the presence of actual conductive hearing loss from middle ear pathology.

Normal hearing typically presents with no ABG, while a consistent ABG of 15 dB or more indicates some degree of conductive loss typically caused by middle ear disorders. Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, is characterized by issues in the cochlea or auditory nerve and generally does not produce an air-bone gap at this level. Thus, the ABG of 15 dB is indicative of a specific phenomenon related to the ear canal rather than a normal hearing profile, conductive issue, or a sensorineural problem.