Hughson-Westlake Procedure

What is the Hughson-Westlake procedure?

The Hughson-Westlake procedure is an automatic pure tone audiometry test. In this test method, the threshold of hearing is defined as 2 out of 3 (or 3 out of 5) correct responses during the ascending portion of the tone presentation. If the patient responds when the tone is ascending, the test will automatically decrease the level by 10 dB. The patient has to respond to the same intensity 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5 times for the threshold to be recorded. Intensity increases will be in steps of 5 dB while the intensity decreases will be in steps of 10 dB.

How to perform the Hughson-Westlake procedure

1. Press and hold the Tests button and use the black scroll wheel to select Auto - Hughson Westlake.
2. Instruct the patient that he will hear pulsed tones, which will vary in intensity and to press the button as soon as the tone is heard. Note If the response button is pressed after the patient heard the tones, the response will not be recorded. Therefore it is important to instruct the patient to press the response button as soon as the tone is heard.
3. To familiarize the patient with the test, press the Famili and press Play.
4. To start the test, deselect Famili, ensure to activate Trace and press Play.
5. The Hughson-Westlake test will automatically store the threshold with 2 out of 3 (or 3 out of 5) ascending responses.
6. All audiometric test frequencies will be measured automatically.
7. The test will automatically switch to the other ear.
8. To stop the test, press Stop.

To measure only one frequency, select the desired frequency and then press on the button Single.

To obtain a threshold including the high frequency range press the button High. Note The range is only available if it is selected in the Setup │ Auto settings.

Setup

Setup │ Auto settings allows for changing the threshold method 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5. The frequencies included in the test is selected by ticking of the frequencies.