How should a forced whisper test be conducted?

Conducting a forced whisper test involves assessing a patient's hearing ability in a controlled environment. Standing 5 feet away from the patient while they cover the opposite ear is the correct approach because it ensures that the sound is coming from one side only, which allows for a more accurate evaluation of the hearing in the ear that is not covered. This setup minimizes background noise and helps isolate the effectiveness of the whispered speech sounds, providing better insight into the patient's auditory function.

Positioning at this distance also strikes an appropriate balance between being close enough for the whisper to be audible while still allowing for the test to be functional, as it simulates real-world listening scenarios where sounds might come from various distances. Covering one ear helps eliminate the patient's ability to hear through their other ear, ensuring that the test evaluates each ear's ability to perceive sound independently.

The other options do not provide the necessary conditions for an effective whisper test, whether due to distance, the nature of the sound produced, or environmental factors that could interfere with the results.