What are Adult Hearing Tests?
A comprehensive audiology evaluation consists of a series of individual diagnostic tests that measure different aspects of your hearing. Following a physical examination and a review of your medical history, you will be given any or all of the following tests:
Pure tone audiometry measures hearing threshold level in response to tones presented at specific frequencies. This test can help determine if you have a conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss.
Speech audiometry assesses your ability to hear and understand speech. This test can help determine the type and degree of your hearing loss, as well as how it may affect your daily life.
Tympanometry measures how well your eardrum moves in response to changes in pressure. This test can help determine if there is any blockage in your middle ear or if you have a perforated eardrum.
Acoustic Reflex testing measures the muscle contraction in your middle ear in response to loud sounds. This test can help determine if you have damage to the nerve pathways from your inner ear to your brain.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) testing measures the response of your inner ear to sound. This test can help determine if there is any damage to the hair cells in your cochlea.
Hearing tests for Children
If you suspect your child has hearing loss, the first step is to obtain a hearing assessment to discover the cause. The sooner children with hearing loss are identified and treated, the more likely they are to achieve expected developmental milestones.
Types of Pediatric Hearing Tests
There are a few different types of hearing tests that are commonly used on children. These include:
The Otoacoustic Emissions Test (OAE)
The Auditory Brainstem Response Test (ABR): This test measures the electrical activity in the brain in response to sound.
The Visual Reinforcement Audiometry Test (VRA): This test uses a toy or other visual reinforcement to help motivate the child to respond to sound.
All of these tests are painless and noninvasive, and can be done on children of all ages. In most cases, the tests will be done in a soundproof booth so that the child can focus on the task at hand.
Learn more about our audiology team and services by calling our hearing services department at (979) 693-7419.
