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Understanding the Different Types of Tests Used to Evaluate Hearing

August 15, 2021thgHEARING AID CARE

Man receiving a hearing a testWhen experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to seek professional care. Hearing tests are typically conducted by an audiologist, a licensed professional with expertise in auditory issues. Learn more about some of the common types of audiological evaluations from The Hearing Group.

Diagnostic Evaluations for Hearing Conditions

An audiologist may utilize several tests to narrow down the cause of a patient’s hearing issue and can recommend solutions like hearing aids if needed. Some of the more common hearing tests include:

Pure Tone Air Conduction Test

This is a common hearing assessment that many people have experienced in school or at their doctor’s office. Pure tone air conduction tests help determine the faintest, quietest tone a person can hear at different frequencies. To perform this test, the patient wears headphones and then listens to tones at varying volumes, indicating when they hear a beep by raising their hand or pressing a button.

Bone Conduction Test

This evaluation isolates a patient’s inner ear from their outer and middle ear. A device is typically placed behind the patient’s ear, and it vibrates to test the inner ear’s hearing abilities. This test can help isolate hearing problems that may be occurring in the outer or middle ear.

Impedance and Acoustic Reflex Tests

Impedance tests measure the volume of the ear canal (how much air can pass through it), as well as assess the tympanic membrane (commonly known as the eardrum). This can help an audiologist determine if a patient’s eardrum or middle ear has been damaged. This test is often paired with an acoustic reflex test. The middle ear has a tiny muscle that contracts in response to a loud sound, a response called the acoustic reflex. An audiologist will play increasingly loud noises to determine what level of sound causes the muscle to react. This helps to determine which part of a patient’s auditory system is causing the hearing problem.

Otoacoustic Emissions Test

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are vibrations produced by the hair cells in the inner ear in response to perceiving a sound. An OAE test helps an audiologist assess how well a patient’s hair cells are functioning. If the hair cells are not responsive, this may be indicative of a hearing disorder, such as auditory neuropathy. An OAE test can also help to identify if a patient has hearing loss.

Speech and Word Discrimination Test

A speech and word discrimination test is used to evaluate how clearly a person hears words. While wearing headphones, the patient is asked to listen to a list of words and then to repeat those words back to the audiologist.

Learn More About Hearing Tests

If you are experiencing hearing loss, don’t feel like you’re stuck with it. An audiologist can help to diagnose an issue and offer possible solutions. The Hearing Group in West Orange, New Jersey, provides expert audiological care to every patient. To learn more about our services for patients in Essex County, contact us today.

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