hearing assessment

Otoscopy

Otoscopic examination is performed:

• To examine the external auditory canal for any abnormalities and blockages due to the presence of a foreign object or wax build-up
• To evaluate the middle ear through the eardrum for any signs of rupture, puncture, and infection

Pure Tone Audiometry

Commonly referred to as “hearing test”, is used to identify hearing threshold levels of an individual in order to determine the degree, type, and configuration of a hearing loss.

For this test, you will listen to a range of beeps and whistles and indicate when you can hear them. The loudness of each tone is reduced until you can just hear the tone. The softest sounds you can hear are your hearing thresholds.

Tympanometry

This is an automatic examination which is used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). This helps to identify any possible middle-ear issues. It is helpful in detecting middle ear effusion, Eustachian tube dysfunction, tympanic membrane perforation, disruption of the ossicles, and otosclerosis.

Speech Audiometry

The range of audible sounds, not just the degree of hearing loss, can vary considerably from person to person. Unfortunately, when hearing is damaged it is usually not just the volume of sound that is softer; often the quality of the sound is also distorted. The amount of distortion can be measured using speech discrimination tests. Hearing loss affects people differently and people with the same degree of hearing loss may experience different degrees of difficulty hearing and understanding speech.

A speech test, which requires the patient to hear specific single words and repeat them back at various testing levels, allows us to understand your functional hearing which can reflect real-life performance.

For clients with a prolonged duration of deafness, even with ideal amplification, they are unable to achieve 100% speech recognition. This is because of auditory deprivation, where the brain has not received auditory input for several years and is now unable to process speech as proficiently as before. Unfortunately, once this speech comprehension ability is lost, it can not be regained. This is why amplification is strongly recommended as soon as possible for those with a significant hearing loss.