Deliberately underperforming on an audiometric evaluation involves actions or behaviors intended to produce results indicating diminished auditory perception. This might include signaling that a tone is not heard when it is, or exaggerating the perceived loudness of sounds. Such actions yield inaccurate assessments of an individual’s true hearing capability.
While seemingly counterintuitive, deliberately skewing hearing test results can serve various purposes. In some instances, individuals might attempt to feign hearing loss to gain access to specific benefits, such as financial compensation, disability allowances, or to avoid certain duties. Historically, inaccurate reporting of sensory perception has been documented in various contexts, driven by individual circumstances and potential advantages linked to a diagnosis of impairment.
