The second year student was testing with indirect supervision and had these results when the preceptor checked in on the student.  The preceptor commented that, given her ability to understand normal conversational speech, the results are worse than expected.

The preceptor reinstructs Linda “be sure you push the button when the sound is soft, not when it is loud” and the student and preceptor retest Linda with an ascending procedure, finding these results.

The preceptor then asked the student to test 1000 Hz in the right ear using a descending technique, starting at 80 dB HL and going down in 5 dB steps.  The descending threshold is marked below.  Note that it is poorer than what was obtained with an ascending technique.

• What is going on?  How do you manage this inconsistency?