Getting a Hearing Evaluation
MDC audiologists provide world class hearing hearing health care to patients of all ages. Comprehensive hearing evaluations using state-of-the-art procedures and protocols provide the necessary information for recommendations regarding diagnosis and management.
Evaluations include establishing history and concerns, visual inspection of the ears, pure-tone and speech recognition testing using diagnostic hearing tests such as air and bone condution, tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing, and other specialized tests.
Diagnostic hearing tests helps audiologists to evaluate each individual’s hearing levels across different frequencies and through different modes of transmission from the outer ear to the inner ear.
There are different types of diagnostic testing available to help audiologists determine the best options for individuals with hearing loss. Results and recommendations are reviewed in each session.
TYPES OF HEARING TESTS
Speech Recognition and Speech Understanding - tests of speech recognition and speech understanding in quiet and in noise are used to evaluate speech clarity.
Pure-Tone Audiometry – PTA measures hearing sensitivity and helps audiologists in determining the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss.
Otoacoustic Emissions – a measurement of the hair cell function in the inner ear, specifically the sound generated by normally functioning cochlea.
Tympanometry – a measurement of the air pressure in the middle ear to test middle ear function and concerns.
Bone Conduction – An oscillator vibrates and sends the pure-tone sound directly into the cochlea, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This helps determine whether there is a concern with the outer ear or the middle ear.
Acoustic Reflex – acoustic reflex tests use high sound pressure to measure the response of intratympanic muscles.
Ultra high-frequency audiometry – an extension of the pure-tone audiometry above 8kHz to test for hearing loss caused by ototoxicity, noise exposure, and acoustic trauma in patients reporting tinnitus.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Auditory Steady State response (ASSR) -tests used to measure brain wave activity in response to sound stimulation. These tests allow audiologists to estimate hearing in infants or individuals who are not able to give reliable responses to soft sounds.
