Types of Audiometry Tests

A hearing test is usually done by an audiologist with an audiogram and provides an accurate reading of an individual's hearing capacity. An audiogram measures the ability of a person to detect sounds within a sound wave by measuring the time the sound takes to rise or fall from its original level. There are other audible testing procedures too, e.g., Weber auditory test and Rinne auditory test.

Audiometers are used in detecting hearing loss when there is cochlea damage in the outer ear, inner ear or middle ear. The damage could be caused by infections, carious diseases, microscopic hearing deformities and tumors. The damaged part of the eardrum has nerve endings that convey messages from the brain and allow the person to distinguish external sounds. When this part of the ear becomes damaged, it becomes unable to distinguish between sounds that come from the environment and ones that it has grown accustomed to.

Audiometers cannot detect all sounds that people can hear, such as speech. It is the job of an audiologist to combine the patient's answers to this questionnaire with the patient's response to specific sounds in order to conduct hearing test. The person should hear a word or a phrase and then the person should hear it on the appropriate frequency. The person should respond to the question or to the sound, indicating what type of hearing problem he or she may have.

During a hearing test, the patient will lie down on a table under a piece of equipment called an audiogram. A hearing care professional will attach a device, called an auditory probe, to the front part of the earlobe. This probe can move about in the ear canal with the audiologist's hands free. The probe then produces an auditory signal that is converted into a sound that the patient can hear.

There are two types of audiometry tests used in hearing test: patch and free biopsy. Patch tests are most often done on children, while free biopsies are usually done on adults. In a patch exam, the audiologist inserts a translucent plug called an insertion guide into each ear. He or she places the probe over the area of interest, which is evaluated using a computer, and takes an auditory measurement.

A hearing test that uses patch exams is called audiometry evaluation. The probe moves slowly through the outer and middle ear to listen to the inside sounds. A sound that the audiologist hears is interpreted by the person as consisting of three components. These are reflected in the pitch, the intensity, and the rhythm of the sound. This evaluation allows doctors to determine if patients have permanent or temporary hearing loss.

With a free biopsy, the health care provider cannot determine how severe the hearing loss is. Instead, he or she determines if sounds are louder or softer than they normally would be in that particular person. The audiologist uses this information to perform a variety of tasks hearing aid Pakistan. Among other things, he or she places the finger in each ear and plays tones at the same volume into each, comparing the sounds to a standard audiogram.

If you or your child has experienced or are experiencing hearing loss, it's important to visit an audiologist. Early detection of hearing problems helps to prevent further hearing damage. If you or your child is experiencing moderate to severe hearing loss or deafness, you should discuss the options with a hearing health professional. Audiometry exams are very helpful for detecting hearing problems and for providing a detailed medical history. Early detection can make a tremendous difference in the course of hearing loss treatment