Which statement best describes the frequencies used in standard hearing screening?

• A. The list includes 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 6000 Hz, with possible omission of 500 Hz and 6000 Hz in some sites
• B. The list includes 750 Hz, 1500 Hz, 2250 Hz, 3000 Hz
• C. The list includes 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz
• D. The list includes 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 8000 Hz

Answer: (A)

The frequencies chosen for standard hearing screening are set to efficiently detect losses that affect understanding speech. Testing the mid to high range around 500–4000 Hz captures the most important sounds in everyday speech, while adding a higher frequency like 6000 Hz helps catch high-frequency losses that can occur with noise exposure or ototoxic effects.

Using 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz ensures the core speech sounds are covered, and the optional 6000 Hz adds sensitivity to high-frequency loss. Some sites may omit 500 Hz or 6000 Hz if time or equipment limits exist, but including them (when possible) gives a fuller screen.

The other frequency sets either focus on frequencies that contribute less to speech understanding or omit key speech-range frequencies, making them less representative of a standard screening protocol.