What is an otoscope ear examination?

An otoscope is a small flashlight that has a magnifying glass attached, and it allows the ENT to see all the way into your ear drum. He or she will be able to see if your ear drum is bulging, retracted, or perforated, and also if there are any foreign bodies or wax that could be blocking your ear.

What is a pure tone audiometry test?

This test, also known as PTA, checks the hearing in both your ears. An audiometer is a machine that delivers sound at various sound levels and frequencies. You listen through a set of head phones, and when you hear the sound, you press a button.

What is tympanometry?

If your ear drum is working properly, it should allow sound to pass to your middle ear. You can experience hearing problems if instead of delivering the sound to the middle ear, your ear drum sends it back. With tympanometry, your tester will seal your ear using a plastic bung, and use a machine to change your ear canal pressure. In this way, the tester can determine if you have any fluid behind your ear drum that could be causing sound to bounce back.

What is a tuning fork test?

Tuning forks produce sound waves when tapped. With this type of test, the tester gently touches the tuning fork on their knee or elbow, making it vibrate, and then holds the tuning fork at various places around your head. This test helps to determine if sounds are not transmitting effectively into your inner ear – in other words, if you have conductive hearing loss because your auditory nerve or your inner ear are not working the way they should.

What is a bone conduction test?

A bone conduction test is a somewhat more sophisticated rendition of the tuning fork test. It involves placing a probe against your ear’s mastoid bone, and allowing it to vibrate in order to determine how well sound is delivered through the mastoid bone.

What is an audiogram?

An audiogram is a means of recording the results of your hearing test on a graph. Different pitches and volumes are recorded, and the kinds of sounds that you can hear are identified. This helps to determine the kind of hearing loss you have, and enables our audiologist to determine what type of treatment or hearing aid would be best for you.

Hearing Tests

Posted on August 21, 2019 by DeFatta Health

What Does Audiology Testing Entail?

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 Testing

Pure tone testing uses beeps of various pitches and volumes to measure your ability to hear. Wearing headphones and/or a bone oscillator, you will be asked to press a button when you hear the beep.

Your responses are charted on a graph called an audiogram. It compares pitch (frequency) and loudness (intensity) and shows your audiologist how loud sound needs to be at each pitch for you to be able to hear it. It also reveals if the hearing loss is surgically or medically correctable, or if hearing aids are the most appropriate treatment option.

Speech Testing

In addition to beeps, words are used to measure your speech understanding. You will be asked to repeat back words when they are at a very soft volume, and also when they are at a volume that is comfortable. This test can be used as a predictor for how well you will perform with hearing aids.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test used to assess the function of the middle ear system. A small probe will be placed into your ear. The probe pushes air into the ear, causing the eardrum to move. Results show the audiologist if the middle ear system is working properly, or if medical attention is necessary.

Acoustic Reflex Testing

Acoustic reflex testing evaluates how the middle ear muscles are working. Similar to tympanometry, a probe is placed in the ear canal. Loud beeps are presented to the ear through the probe, and the contraction of the middle ear muscles in response to the beeps is recorded. This test is helpful in determining the cause of hearing loss.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing assesses how the ear, hearing nerves, and brain pathway for hearing are working. In an ABR test, electrodes are attached to your head, scalp or earlobes, and you are given earbuds to wear. Your brainwave activity is measured in response to sounds presented through the earbuds. This test is used on children, individuals who cannot complete a traditional hearing test, or if it is suspected your symptoms are due to hearing loss in the brain pathway.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)

Otoacoustic emission (OAEs) testing is performed to determine how well the cochlea, the organ of hearing, works. OAE testing utilizes a tiny probe fitted with a microphone and speaker that is used to stimulate the organ of hearing and measure its response. The response is called an otoacoustic emission, and are low level sounds given off by the cochlea in response to sound. If the cochlea is functioning normally, emissions will be produced. If a hearing loss greater than 25-30 dB is present, no emissions will be produced.

Abnormal OAEs can indicate a blockage in the ear canal, excess fluid in the middle ear or damage to the hair cells of the cochlea. OAE testing is often included in newborn hearing screening programs.

Call DeFatta Hearing Aid Experts at (715) 930-1940 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Hearing Tests

What Does Audiology Testing Entail?

Pure Tone Testing

Speech Testing

Tympanometry

Acoustic Reflex Testing

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)

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