What is audiometry test?

Audiometry is a test that measures how well a person hears. It is used to diagnose hearing loss, identify the type and severity of hearing loss, and monitor the effectiveness of hearing aids or other treatments.

Audiometry tests are typically conducted by an audiologist, who is a healthcare professional trained in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss. The test involves using a device called an audiometer to produce sounds at different frequencies and intensities and asking the person being tested to respond when they hear a sound. The results of the test are then used to create an audiogram, which is a graph that shows the person's hearing levels at different frequencies.

Different types of testing methods in an audiometry test include:

Pure-tone audiometry

This is the most common type of audiometry test. It measures how well a person hears pure tones, which are sounds with a single frequency. The person being tested is seated in a soundproof room and wears headphones. The audiologist then plays a series of pure tones at different frequencies and intensities, and the person being tested presses a button when they hear a sound.

Speech audiometry

This test measures how well a person understands speech. The person being tested is seated in a soundproof room and listens to a series of recorded words. The audiologist then asks the person being tested to repeat the words they heard.

Tympanometry

This measures how well the eardrum moves in response to sound. It is used to identify problems with the middle ear, such as fluid in the ear or a perforated eardrum.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)

This test measures the sounds produced by the inner ear. It is used to screen for hearing loss in newborns and young children.

Auditory brainstem response (ABR)

This test measures how well the brain responds to sound. It is used to diagnose hearing loss in people who are unable to respond to behavioral audiometry tests, such as infants and people who are sedated or unconscious.

Audiometry tests can be uncomfortable for some people, but they are generally painless. They usually take about 30-60 minutes to complete.