How Audiologists Evaluate Hearing

As we discussed in our last blog, there are major differences between audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.  Audiologists possess a Doctoral degree in audiology and are skilled in the planning, directing, supervising, and conducting of habilitative and rehabilitative counseling programs for individuals who have been diagnosed or are suspected of having disorders of hearing.  Hearing aid dispensers are licensed by the state to test hearing solely for the purpose of fitting hearing aids.  They are not licensed to test for or treat balance disorders or tinnitus.  

Another difference between hearing aid dispensers and audiologists is how hearing is tested.  Audiologists test hearing in an enclosed, sound-proof booth instead of an open table.  The difference between a hearing evaluation performed in an enclosed sound booth and at an open table is accuracy.  Eliminating background noise is a critical component of accurately evaluating a person's remaining hearing capacity.  

At Appalachian Audiology, we test hearing across 8 frequencies depending on the severity of the hearing loss.  A thorough hearing evaluation is also comprised of:

• Otoscopy to ensure the absence of fluid or infection.
• Tympanometry to test ear drum movement, the presence of fluid, and to confirm the absence of eustachian tube dysfunction.
• Acoustic Reflex Testing to check the muscles of the middle ear to see if it contracts in the presence of loud sounds
• Speech and Tone Testing to discover the full range of a patient's hearing
• Air and Bone Conduction 
• Word Discrimination to determine how well speech is understood in noise

These components help an audiologist discover the location, degree, and type of hearing loss an individual has (if any).  Once this is determined, an audiologist must consider three components before deciding on the right course of treatment.  More on this in the next blog...

For more information on what you should expect from a thorough hearing exam, visit our website!