Audiological Test

An audiological test is a painless, non-invasive procedure that measures your ability to hear different sounds, pitches, and frequencies. It is performed by an audiologist, a healthcare professional who specializes in hearing and balance disorders.

Why get an audiological test?

There are many reasons why you may need an audiological test, including:

• To screen for hearing loss, especially in newborns and young children.
• To diagnose the type and severity of hearing loss.
• To monitor hearing loss over time.
• To assess the effectiveness of hearing aids or other treatments.
• To determine if you are eligible for cochlear implants.

What happens during an audiological test?

The most common type of audiological tests is pure-tone audiometry. During this test, you will wear headphones and listen to a series of tones of different pitches and loudness’s. You will be asked to raise your hand or press a button each time you hear a tone.

Other types of audiological tests may include:

• Speech discrimination testing: This test assesses your ability to understand speech in noise.
• Tympanometry: This test measures the movement of the eardrum and middle ear bones.
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs): This test measures the response of the inner ear to sound.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR): This test measures the electrical activity of the auditory nerve and brainstem in response to sound.

What are the results of an audiological tests?

The results of an audiological tests are plotted on an audiogram, which is a graph that shows the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches. The audiologist will use the audiogram to determine the type and severity of your hearing loss, if any.