The 5 Types of Audiological Testing

Florida Ear Nose Throat

Facial Plastic Surgery Center

877-EAR-NOSE

www.FloridaENT.com

Do you or someone you love suffer from hearing loss? The best thing you can do to get to the core of the problem is to go for audiologic testing. Through audiologic testing,  you can determine the severity and best treatment. At Florida ENT, we offer a wide range of audiologic testing from the basic diagnostic test to the more advanced examinations.

Audiogram 
Function: An audiogram uses sounds of specific frequencies and intensity levels to determine what a person can hear in each ear.
The sounds are heard through headphones, and the patient is asked to identify each sound and the ear in which it was heard. The sounds become fainter and fainter, ultimately determining the lowest level at which a patient can hear. An audiogram may also include speech in the form of two-syllable words to determine how well a patient can comprehend what is being heard. For results to be considered normal, a patient must be able to hear a normal speaking voice, a whisper and the ticking of a watch.

Tympanometry
Function: Tympanometry examines and diagnoses the middle ear by varying air pressure in the ear canal to see how the ear responds.
A probe is inserted into the ear to change the air pressure, produce a tone and measure the responses. The patient may not speak, move or swallow during the test because doing so can affect ear pressure. Tympanometry measures the functionality of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). Abnormal findings may be the result of fluid in the middle ear, a perforated ear drum or impacted ear wax.

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response Test
Function: The brainstem auditory evoked response test (BAER) examines brain waves that have been stimulated by a clicking sound in order to evaluate the auditory pathways in the brain. 
Electrodes are placed on the scalp and earlobes, and the patient listens to a clicking noise through headphones. The electrodes record the brain's reaction. The BAER is commonly used to diagnose nervous-system abnormalities and hearing loss in infants and children.

Otoacoustic Emissions Test
Function: Otoacoustic emissions testing (OAE) measures response to sound from the cochlea.
 The hair cells inside the cochlea vibrate in response to sound. The test is performed by inserting a microphone and two speakers into the ear to emit a sound and then record the response signal. The test is often performed on children when hearing loss is a possibility. Absent or very soft response signals may be the result of hearing loss, fluid behind the ears or damage to the cochlea.

Videonystagmography
Function: Videonystagmography (VNG) is a test used to record involuntary eye movement called "nystagmus."
The test generates nystagmus, and the resulting recorded data determines the vestibular ocular reflex. The VNG is a basic balance test used to diagnose patients with symptoms of dizziness. The VNG is actually composed of seven different tests that help to determine whether dizziness results from a dysfunctions of the ear or from a different factor.

For more information on hearing loss, visit our website, or call (877) EAR-NOSE to schedule an appointment!