Comprehensive Audiological Evaluation
Pure-Tone Audiometry:
- Pure-tone audiometry is a fundamental component of audiological evaluation. It involves the measurement of an individual’s hearing sensitivity across a range of frequencies. The results are typically plotted on an audiogram, which provides a visual representation of the person’s hearing thresholds for different pitches. This assessment helps audiologists identify the type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss, whether it be conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.
Speech Audiometry:
Speech audiometry assesses an individual’s ability to hear and understand speech. This evaluation includes tests that measure speech reception thresholds (SRT) and word recognition scores. SRT determines the lowest level at which a person can detect and recognize speech, while word recognition scores assess how well they can understand and repeat spoken words. These tests provide valuable information about the functional impact of hearing loss on communication abilities.
Middle Ear Evaluation:
Beyond assessing the sensitivity of hearing, an audiological evaluation may include tests to evaluate the middle ear function. Tympanometry and acoustic reflex tests are common in this regard. Tympanometry measures the compliance of the eardrum and middle ear system, helping identify conditions like fluid in the middle ear or problems with the eardrum. Acoustic reflex tests measure involuntary muscle contractions in response to loud sounds, aiding in the diagnosis of certain auditory disorders and providing insights into the integrity of the auditory pathway.