Pure Tone Audiometry

Pure-tone audiometry is the gold-standard for hearing evaluation and is used to identify the hearing ability of an individual. Thus, giving information for hearing diagnosis and the appropriate solution.

As the pure-tone audiometry is a behavioural measure of hearing it can difficult to obtain accurate results in young children below the age of 6 and uncooperative adults and hence other tests are recommended.

Speech Discrimination Test

Speech discrimination tests uses lists of isolated words or sentences and are presented to the patient by either live voice or recorded speech. It is commonly used in conjunction with pure-tone audiometry to determine the degree and type of hearing loss.

Speech discrimination tests also provides information regarding discomfort or tolerance to speech stimuli and information on word recognition abilities. It can help determine proper gain and maximum output of hearing aids and other amplifying devices for patients with significant hearing losses and help assess how well they hear in noisy situations.

Speech discrimination tests is included in the battery of tests for Medical Flight Tests or pilot assessment.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry measures the functional integrity of the eardrum and middle ear anatomy. This test is common used in conjunction with pure tone audiometry.

Impedance Test Battery

The impedance test battery consists of: (1) Acoustic reflex testing and (2) tympanometry. Acoustic reflex testing is important in detecting problems in the auditory pathway beyond the inner ear.

Diagnostic OAE (Otoacoustic emissions)

Diagnostic or distortion product OAE measures presence/absence of outer hair cell function in inner ear. A quicker screening version that is that is also offered is call Transient Evoked OAE

ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response)

ABR is an objective electrophysiological test, evaluating the integrity of the hearing system up to the lower brainstem. Commonly used in people who are unable to do traditional hearing test or to detect neural desynchrony.

ECochG (Electrocochleography)

(Electrocochleography)

Objective measure of the electrical potentials generated in the the inner ear (cochlea) to determine if there is an excessive amount of fluid pressure. Commonly used to diagnose ear pathologies such as Meniere’s disease, endolymphatic hydrops or Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD).

Promontory Stimulation/eABR

Promontory Stimulation or eABR is a variation of ABR whereby instead of using acoustic sounds to evoke a response from the brain, electrical stimulation is used direction. This test is commonly used in assessing pre-implant and post-implant cochlear implant candidates to assess the benefits of a cochlear implant.