Hearing Tests

Tests of hearing

Finger friction test ,Watch test, Speech test; whisper and conversational speech

• Tuning fork tests

• Pure-tone audiometry

• Speech Audiometry

• Impedance audiometry / tympanometry

• Brain-stem evoked response audiometry

Finger friction test, watch test, clinical speech test and tuning fork tests are often used for hearing screening or bed side testing.

256, 512 and 1024 Hz frequency, vibrating tuning forks are placed in front of ear (to test air conduction), behind the ear and over the forehead (to test bone conduction; here sound is directly transmitted to the cochlea) to get an idea of hearing, and degree & type of hearing impairment if any.

If the eardrum does not heal, and the perforation is small, it can sometimes be closed by a simple office procedure like cauterization and paper patch..

Tympanoplasty is commonly performed for repair of the eardrum. The operating microscope helps to enlarge the view of the ear structures; a small patch from fascia (muscle sheath) is placed onto the eardrum.

If the bones of hearing are eroded, then ossicular reconstruction (ossiculoplasty) using artificial bones or ossicles from donor may be necessary at the time of tympanoplasty.

Pure-tone Audiometry

Audiometer is an electronic device which produces pure-tones.

Person has to put on headphones and then listen for some different tones from low pitch to high pitch. Person has to push a button or raise hand when he hears each tone.

Hearing is measured at different frequencies from (250 Hz to 8,000 Hz). Results in decibels are charted in the form of graph called audiogram.

This procedure is called Pure-tone Audiometry.

It is a subjective test of hearing and cooperation and understanding of patient is of utmost importance.

Audiometry is required

    To know degree and type of hearing loss.

    Before prescribing a hearing-aid.