Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations

Hearing Evaluations

Air conduction - This is a behavioral test to measure hearing sensitivity at different frequencies. Pure tones are presented through earphones to determine the softest levels that a patient can hear.

Bone Conduction – Bone Conduction testing is similar to air conduction testing however, there is a major difference in how the sound is delivered and heard by the patient. An oscillator is put on the patient’s bone behind the ear. The oscillator vibrates and sends the sound directly into the cochlea, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This test, along with the air conduction test, helps the audiologist properly diagnose and treat the type of hearing loss that may be present in a patient.

Speech Testing - A test that measures a patient's ability to discriminate speech sounds. A list of words is presented through earphones without visual cues to determine how well the patient can repeat back words correctly.

Tympanometry

A test of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and middle ear system. A soft probe tip is placed into the ear canal and then a small amount of pressure is presented. This test checks the condition of the middle ear.

Acoustic reflexes

A tiny muscle in the middle ear tightens when you hear a loud sound. How loud the sound needs to be before this reflex happens can tell a lot about your hearing. If your hearing loss is very bad, you may not even have a reflex. The sounds will come through a probe in your ear. A device will record your reflex.