The hearing test is the main test for assessing the level of hearing, as well as for diagnostic evaluation. Hearing examination can be performed at prosthetic points or in the clinic, in the office of a laryngologist. Usually such a test is performed by a hearing prosthetist.
Diagnosis of hearing is based on subjective or objective studies.
Types of hearing test
Hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, constant asking for a replay, TV turning off etc. these are symptoms that should lead us to visit a laryngologist-so colloquially called a doctor from the ears, throat, nose and larynx, which in professional terminology is referred to as an otolaryngologist. However, you do not have to wait in lines to the doctor!
The basic hearing test (audiometry) is also performed by a hearing prosthetist, so if you want to check your hearing or feel symptoms of hearing loss, it is best to go directly to a hearing prosthetist.
You can make an appointment at any time by phone-you will not have to wait in queues and the hearing test is free of charge.
Methods of hearing testing are divided into subjective and objective.
Subjective hearing tests
During a subjective hearing test, the patient must provide specific feedback on hearing quiet sounds. The basis for the diagnosis of hearing problems is total audiometry (identified de facto with the term “hearing test”).
The audiometric test shall be carried out in a quiet room to avoid extraneous noise which may distort the correct result.
The audiogram-the results of audiometry-illustrates the threshold of hearing with the help of curves. The correct audiogram shows the hearing threshold in the range 0-25 DB.
In addition, when hearing loss is detected, speech audiometry is also performed, which checks the level of understanding of words
Objective hearing tests
Objective examination is carried out without the involvement of the patient, using special instrumentation. First of all, they are carried out in children in specialized institutions or in a hospital in the laryngological department.
Objective hearing assessment techniques include tympanometry. Due to its painlessness and non-invasiveness, this method is gladly used as a hearing test in a child, but not only.
What is it? Using a special probe, the reflection of the sound wave from the tympanic membrane is measured under the conditions of pressure changes in the external auditory canal. This is a diagnostic test to assess the proper functioning of the tympanic membrane, in order to determine the cause of hearing loss.
In turn, acoustic emission is used to assess the function of the cochlea-the structure of the middle ear responsible for the hearing process. It consists in recording the quiet sounds emitted by the inner ear in response to a given acoustic stimulus. If the given sound does not cause any reaction-we are dealing with hearing loss. Otoemission is carried out most often in newborns and infants.
An objective method is also the examination of hearing Bera. It allows you to assess the auditory potential of the brain stem and determine the location of damage on the course of the auditory pathway. During the Bera study, electrodes placed on the patient’s head record the brainstem’s response to sounds. Computer analysis of data allows you to assess the patient’s hearing threshold. The examination is carried out in a dream.
What’s the hearing test like? If you want to check your hearing make an appointment for a hearing prosthetist (without any referral). For an audiometric examination with a hearing prosthetist, reserve yourself half an hour.
Before the test, the hearing prosthetist should check the ear canal (for any remaining secretions), as this affects the abnormal result of audiometry. He will also explain what the examination will consist of and what is expected of the patient.