Hearing Test & Assessment

Hearing Test is the examination and evaluation to check for hearing problems. According to age and needs of the tester, there are various hearing test and audiological assessment methods. Since there is no assessment to be absolutely accurate, we will use different hearing test methods to evaluate the hearing sensitivity and ability of the tester before recommending different styles of hearing aids or treatment.

The following are the general hearing test and assessment methods:

• Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)
  

Hearing sensitivity or loss is quantified by using pure tones controlled by a dual-channel clinical audiometer and presented through earphones and a bone vibrator. Narrow-band masking noise is used when appropriate.

• Impedance Audiometry (IA)
  

The middle ear and the acoustic reflex are assessed with a clinical electroacoustic bridge, which can activate the acoustic reflex with either contralateral or ipsilateral test tones. Eardrum mobility and middle ear pressure are evaluated ipsilaterally with tympanometry.

• Otoacoustic Emission Test (OAE)
  

Otoacoustic Emissions Test (OAE) is to assess the function of cochlear outer hair cells and appropriate for individuals from birth through adulthood. Persons with normal hearing produce emissions. Those with hearing loss greater than 25-30 dB do not.

If you need a professional hearing aids prescription or hearing therapy services, please call us for an appointment.

Behavioural Hearing Evaluations

• Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)
  

Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) is to assess hearing level by demonstrating a specific response (such as hand-raising or button pushing) to an acoustic stimulus. It is appropriate for testing individuals from school-age through adulthood. Results define the nature and degree of hearing impairment.

• Play Audiometry (PA)
  

This assessment is appropriate for testing children of 3 year old or above. Sometimes children are given a more play-like activity (Conditioned Play Audiometry) to indicate response.

• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
  

This assessment is appropriate for testing children from 7 to 30 months of age. It assesses hearing sensitivity using conditioned responses to sound, i.e., head turning. This procedure can be used to determine threshold of hearing. Because signals are typically presented through a loudspeaker, thresholds obtained indicate hearing level of the 'better hearing ear' only.

• Impedance Audiometry (IA)
  

This test assesses the status of the middle ear system to provide information about the status of the tympanic membrane and middle ear system.

• Auditory Response Audiometry
  

This test is to assess auditory function from cochlea level up to the brainstem.