Audiometric Evaluation
Comprehensive Audiometric Evalution
If you suspect hearing loss in yourself or your child, it is critical that you visit an audiologist to be evaluated. An audiologist will normally start by asking you some questions relating to your hearing, such as how you experience your hearing, if you have been subjected to loud noise or other incidents, if people in your family suffer from hearing loss or whether you hear better in one ear or the other.
Initial examination
An audiologist will start examine your ears with a special instrument called an otoscope. With this examination the audiologist can find out if there are any problems in the ear canal or with the eardrum.
After the physical examination, your hearing is tested. This takes place in a quiet room without background noise or in a special soundproof room.
Pure tone test
The first test is a pure tone test. This tests your ability to hear a number of different pure tones using a pair of soundproof headphones.
Bone conduction test
In some cases, the audiologist will carry out a bone conduction test to measure your ability to hear pure tones, by placing a small bone conductor behind your ear. The bone conduction test will reveal if there is a problem in the middle ear cavity.
Speech test
Next, the audiologist will test your ability to understand speech. The speech test investigates whether there could be problems with the auditory nerve which sends signals from the ear to the brain or whether there could be problems understanding speech and sounds in the brain itself.
Tympanometry
The last examination is Tympanometry. Tympanometry tests the condition of the middle ear and the mobility of the eardrum.
Audiogram
The results of these tests are presented in an audiogram, which will show the degree of your hearing loss and if you could benefit from hearing aids.
The evaluation is done to determine if a hearing loss is present, and if so, to detail the type and severity of the hearing loss. It also may provide insight in to the cause of the hearing loss as well as provide guidance for the audiologist in making appropriate treatment recommendations.
Other Hearing tests may include:
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Testing
- Acoustic Reflexes
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Pediatric Hearing screen
- Vestibular Test
When hearing loss is suspected in children, it is critical to have an audiometric evaluation performed in order to understand the nature of the hearing loss and enhance the child’s quality of life. At FOCUS Audiology, your audiologist will not only perform the hearing test and review the results with you, but they will also directly have you examined by an ENT physician to further review the results and collectively assess treatment options. It is important that you voice all of your questions and concerns to your audiologist. As hearing experts, they will ensure that you get the best treatment options that optimally meet the needs of you or your child.
