What does IA refer to in audiology?

In audiology, "IA" stands for Interaural Attenuation. It specifically refers to the decrease in signal intensity as sound travels from one ear to the other. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding how sound is perceived by each ear, especially in cases of hearing assessments and when testing air conduction thresholds.

When sound is presented to one ear, some of that sound can be heard by the other ear due to bone conduction or cross-hearing. Interaural attenuation indicates how much the sound level decreases as it travels from the test ear to the non-test ear. This concept is important for audiologists to determine whether the test results are valid or if they might be influenced by sound reaching the opposite ear.

Understanding IA helps professionals administer appropriate hearing tests and interpret the results accurately, ensuring that a patient's hearing levels are appropriately assessed without the risk of cross-hearing affecting the overall evaluation.