Hearing Tests
BASIC HEARING TESTS
Comprehensive Audiogram
An audiogram tests hearing to determine the softest level at which a person detects sound, ranging from low-pitched to high-pitched tones using headphones. This includes speech reception thresholds, meaning the level at which speech is detected as well as speech understanding capabilities in the quiet of a sound booth.
For children, depending on the child’s age and capabilities, he or she may be tested slightly differently to determine appropriate age-related responses to speech and to tones.
Tympanogram
Determines the mobility of the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
Acoustic Reflexes
This tests a small muscle in the middle ear to determine if it contracts in response to a loud sound.
SPECIAL TESTING
AUDITORY BRAINSTEM RESPONSE (ABR)
The measurement of hearing using computer-averaged electric responses produced by the auditory nerve and the brainstem. It also allows us to detect small tumors on the auditory nerve pathway. This test takes approximately thirty (30) minutes.
ELECTROCOCHLEOGRAPHY (ECoG)
A measure of auditory function that allows us to detect if there is an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear. This test may help us to diagnose Meniere’s Disease if the patient is experiencing dizziness or vertigo. This test takes approximately thirty (30) minutes.
ELECTRONYSTAGMOGRAPHY (ENG)
ENG is the recording of eye movements, especially nystagmus, while watching various stationary or moving lights. Nystagmus is the movement the eye makes when a person experiences dizziness or vertigo. Testing also includes placing the patient in various head and body positions to see if those maneuvers cause dizziness. The final section of the testing includes passing warm and cool air through a small tube placed in the ears. This procedure will cause dizziness lasting only a few minutes. For some people this dizziness is very mild. For others it may be more severe. The complete ENG test is normally completed in sixty (60) minutes.
OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS (OAEs)
OAEs measure the cochlear function of the outer hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells are responsible for responding to sound. Two pure tones are presented simultaneously. The hair cells then generate a third sound, which is measured by the probe placed in the ear canal. This test takes only a couple minutes per ear.
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