Which procedure is specifically designed to determine hearing thresholds through a modified ascending-descending method?

The procedure designed to determine hearing thresholds through a modified ascending-descending method is known as the Hughson-Westlake procedure. This technique is commonly utilized in audiometry to establish an individual’s hearing thresholds in a systematic way.

The Hughson-Westlake method involves a series of tones presented at various levels to ascertain the softest sound that a person can hear. The process starts with a tone at a level that is assumed to be audible. If the patient responds, the audiologist decreases the intensity of the tone, and if there is no response, the intensity is increased again, effectively "bracketing" the person's hearing capability. This method allows audiologists to accurately determine the threshold levels of an individual’s hearing while ensuring minimal discomfort.

Pure tone audiometry, while also used to assess hearing thresholds, may not specifically follow the modified ascending-descending method of bracketing used in the Hughson-Westlake technique. Speech audiometry focuses on assessing how well an individual can understand speech and is not primarily for measuring hearing thresholds. Bracketing is a technique used within tests like the Hughson-Westlake but does not denote a standalone procedure focused on determining hearing thresholds.

By following this structured approach, the Hughson-Westlake procedure provides reliable and