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​Audiometry

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• Pure Tone Air Conduction Audiometry - Evaluates hearing thresholds at frequencies 250 - 8,000 Hz.  Small earphones are inserted into the ear canals or headphones are used to determine the lowest level that an individual can hear each frequency in each ear.  Sound is sent though the normal, or air conduction pathway (from the outer ear, to the middle ear, to the inner ear, then up to the brain via the acoustic nerve).    

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• Extended High Frequency Air Conduction Audiometry - Evaluates hearing thresholds at frequencies higher than 8,000 Hz (i.e. 10,000 - 20,000 Hz).  These frequencies are typically affected earlier than conventional frequencies due to noise exposure or ototoxicity. 

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• ​Pure Tone Bone Conduction Audiometry - Evaluates hearing thresholds at frequencies 500 - 4,000 Hz.  A bone conduction headband is placed behind each ear to determine the lowest level that an individual can hear each frequency.  Sound is sent though the bone conduction pathway (directly to the inner ear, then up to the brain via the acoustic nerve).  

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• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) - Evaluates hearing thresholds at frequencies 500 - 4,000 Hz.   Sounds are played through speakers to determine the lowest level that a child can hear each frequency.  The child is conditioned to turn their head in the direction of a visual reinforcer (an animated toy box) each time they hear a sound.  Sound is sent though the normal, or air conduction pathway (from the outer ear, to the middle ear, to the inner ear, then up to the brain via the acoustic nerve).  This type of evaluation is not ear specific, as both ears are working together in the sound field.    ​

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• Speech Audiometry - Uses speech stimuli (words) to determine the lowest level at which an individual can detect the presence of spoken words (speech detection), or recognize and identify words (speech recognition).  Speech audiometry is typically used in conjunction with pure tone and/or bone conduct

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Middle Ear Tests​

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• Tympanometry - Measures how well the eardrum is moving and assesses the health of the middle ear.  A small ear tip is placed in the ear canal to measure the change in eardrum movement in response to positive and negative pressure.​

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• Acoustic Middle Ear Reflex Testing - Measures the responses of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles in the middle ear to intense sound.  A small ear tip is placed in each ear canal to deliver and measure the responses of the middle ear muscles to loud tones.

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• Acoustic Decay Testing - Measures the amount of time that it takes for the acoustic middle ear reflex to decay.  A small ear tip is placed in each ear canal to deliver and measure the responses of the middle ear muscles to loud tones.

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Special Tests​

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• Otoacoustic Emissions Testing - Assesses the function of the outer hair cells within the hearing organ (cochlea).​

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