Audiological Evaluation & Testing
What is an audiological evaluation?
An audiological evaluation is a thorough assessment of a person's hearing by an audiologist that is used to help determine the type, degree and configuration of your hearing loss. The tests often provide insights on what has caused your hearing loss. Your doctor can use the information to develop a treatment plan that will be most effective for you. Hearing evaluations can be performed on a patient of any age, though the method of testing depends on your age and ability to complete the task.
What type of tests will be performed during an audiological evaluation?
Pure-tone air and bone conduction testing evaluates the lowest tones you can hear at different frequencies — high and low.
Bone-conduction testing is similar to pure-tone air conduction testing. During bone-conduction testing, your doctor will use a different type of headphone. Your doctor will be able to determine if your hearing loss has originated from the inner ear or from the middle/outer ear.
Speech testing is also an option. There are many ways to test through speech including:
Speech reception threshold testing is usually used to confirm results from the pure-tone test. During this test, your doctor will try to discern the lowest level where patients can understand words or speech patterns.
Word recognition testing measures a patient’s ability to correctly repeat words at a comfortable volume.
Testing in noise: A common complaint of a patient experiencing hearing loss is that they have difficulty understanding speech in an environment with background noise. Therefore, testing in noise can provide helpful insight.
Otoscopy testing is where your doctor examines the outer ear canal with an instrument called an otoscope.
Tympanometry examines the middle ear and tympanic membrane (eardrum) function. It determines if the eardrum is moving appropriately and assesses middle ear pressure.
When should I see a specialist for hearing evaluation?
Hearing loss is a chronic condition that affects over 19 million adults over the age of 45 in the US. It can feel really isolating and can alienate you from your friends and family. Luckily, no matter the extent of your hearing loss, there are lots of options for help and support.
Should I visit an ENT or Audiologist for hearing loss?
Knowing what type of doctor to visit for hearing loss is important. If you believe you or your child are experiencing hearing loss, your first call should be to an audiologist. Hearing loss is most often a natural consequence of the aging process or as a result of a lifestyle that regularly exposes one to noise. However, hearing loss can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, so it’s important to see your doctor right away.
While an audiologist cannot perform surgeries and/or prescribe drugs, they can carry out audiological evaluations or hearing tests of the ear canal, eardrum and inner ear. They can also help you find a hearing aid to help mitigate the effects of your hearing loss. Audiologists can also remove deposits of earwax that may be causing hearing loss..
Keep in mind that it is possible for an audiologist to determine your hearing loss is the symptom of a much bigger problem for which they will likely refer you to an ENT specialist.
When To See An ENT
More often than not, your doctor or audiologist will refer you to an ENT specialist. At the ENT, they are able to carry out further testing if your audiologist is unable to determine the cause of your hearing loss, or if the cause is beyond their capability to treat.
Because the majority of hearing loss patients experience slow and incremental symptoms, if you experience a sudden and profound loss of hearing, it is imperative to call an ENT doctor right away to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
At the ENT office, the doctors are able to carry out more comprehensive tests than an audiologist and are also able to prescribe pharmaceutical treatments or perform surgery if needed.