What is a common purpose of performing a pure tone air conduction assessment?

Performing a pure tone air conduction assessment primarily serves the purpose of determining thresholds for different frequencies. This assessment involves using a calibrated audiometer to present pure tones at various frequencies and intensities to a patient, allowing the clinician to identify the softest sounds the patient can hear across a range of frequencies.

This information is critical for diagnosing the type and degree of hearing loss a person may have. By knowing the thresholds, audiologists can understand how well a person can hear different pitches, which is essential for tailoring interventions such as hearing aids or other treatments.

In contrast, the other options serve different purposes. Predicting hearing loss levels involves a broader scope of assessment, which can include additional tests beyond air conduction thresholds. Assessing speech recognition ability typically requires different kinds of tests, such as speech audiometry, focusing on a person's understanding of speech rather than pure tone thresholds. Evaluating middle ear function usually involves tympanometry or other tests specifically designed to assess the functioning of the middle ear, which is not the goal of a pure tone air conduction assessment.