Which of the following establishes the threshold for needed masking during air conduction testing?

The threshold for needed masking during air conduction testing is established by pure tone thresholds. Pure tone thresholds are the lowest levels of sound that a patient can hear at various frequencies, typically measured using air conduction methods. This is essential because masking is used to eliminate the potential for cross-hearing, where the test tone may be heard by the non-test ear, thus affecting the accuracy of the assessment.

When the air conduction threshold of the test ear is significantly better than the bone conduction threshold in the non-test ear, masking becomes necessary. By using the pure tone thresholds of the test ear, audiologists can determine when to introduce masking noise to ensure that the results reflect the hearing abilities of the test ear alone. This method helps in providing a more accurate diagnosis of hearing loss and enables more effective recommendations for treatment or intervention.