Hearing problems are common in the American population. According to statistics from the US Department of Health and Human Services, two-thirds of 1,000 children are affected by hearing loss. 15% of Americans over 18 have experienced hearing loss.
But how do we hear? The soundwaves that travel to your eardrum cause it to vibrate, which is how hearing happens. The sound waves travel further inside your eardrum, causing vibrations that trigger nerve cells to transmit useful information to your brain. This information is then converted into the sounds that you hear.
It is important to test your hearing ability in order to diagnose any problems. There are many tests that can diagnose and identify hearing problems. The type of test will depend on many factors, including your age.
Types of hearing tests for children
Routine hearing tests for children and infants are recommended. They are often done before the child leaves the clinic. If your child fails to pass the assessment, this does not necessarily mean that he or she has a hearing problem. Your child should be tested again within three months. If you’re in the area, come visit Pensacola’s best hearing center. The following are some of the hearing tests:
- Otoacoustic emission (OAE) test: This test measures part of the inward-ear’s response to sound. The test measures the otoacoustic emissions, or OAEs. These are the sound waves that the inner ear emits using hair cells that vibrate to respond to sound. This test is usually performed on children younger than 5 years old, who may not respond to social hearing tests because of their age.
- The Auditory brainstorm test (ABR): This test can be used to determine a child’s ability to hear. This test uses a PC to measure how children’s auditory nerves react to different sounds. It is safe and simple to see how nerves and cerebrum respond to sounds. The audiologist can also use this information to determine if there is any hearing loss in children.
- Tympanometry is the best test for determining the movement of your eardrums. The audiologist inserts a small probe that looks like a headphone into the ear. The probe is connected to another device that injects air into the ear canal. The results are then shown on a diagram known as a tympanogram. This technique can also be used to detect center ear emanation and provide information about compliance with the tympanic layers.
Adult hearing tests
- Tuning fork test: The tuning forks can be used to quickly determine if there is a significant conductive component to your hearing loss. These tests are used to provide early information, especially when audiometry is not possible or accessible. They involve two tests: Rinne and Weber. These tests allow the audiologist to determine if a person has sensorineural or conductive hearing loss and help them develop a treatment plan.
- Speech and word recognition tests: These tests can be used to assess speech segregation, also known as word recognition ability. After listening to a recording or word, the patient is asked to repeat the words. The patient’s ability to understand speech is then measured by the audiologist at a relaxed listening level. This information can help determine the effectiveness of a particular hearing aid for a given person.
- Acoustic reflex measurements: Acoustic reflexes measure stapedius, tensor-tympani and the eardrum’s extraordinary sound. The stapedius muscles contract when either ear is exposed for a loud sound. The stapedius muscle contracts, causing the oval window to recede from the top of the oval stapes and solidifying the ossicular link. These reflexes can help to determine the severity of certain types of hearing loss. They also highlight focal sensory system pathology.
- Pure-tone test: This interactive test measures hearing sensitivity. It involves both the central and peripheral auditory systems. This hearing test is used to determine an individual’s hearing threshold. It measures the severity of the hearing loss and provides a solution. Pure-tone thresholds, or PTTs, show half the sound that is perceptible to an individual at any given time.
One test might not be sufficient to diagnose the problem. Your audiologist might request multiple tests in order to get accurate results.
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