If you suffer from hearing loss or other hearing and balance related conditions, you may benefit from an audiologic evaluation (hearing test). These comprehensive diagnostic exams can determine the cause, severity and best treatment option for these conditions.
Some Of The Common Types Of Audiologic Tests:
Diagnostic Audiogram – An audiogram uses sound tones of specific frequencies and intensity levels to determine what a person can hear in each ear. Tones are heard through headphones, and the patient is asked to identify each time they hear a sound and in which ear. The sound intensity will become lower and lower to determine the level at which a patient can barely hear. An audiogram may also include speech in the form of two-syllable words to determine how well a patient can comprehend what is being heard. Sometimes sound tones are delivered directly to the inner ear by vibration to the mastoid bone behind the ear, bypassing problems with the middle ear.
Tympanometry – Tympanometry measures the functionality of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). A probe is inserted into the outer ear canal to change the air pressure, produce a tone, and then measure the responses. Abnormal results may be the result of fluid in the middle ear, perforated eardrum or eardrum scarring.