Hearing Test: Audiometry and Typanometry

Audiometry

Auditometry is a hearing test. It is used to measure hearing loss.

How the test is performed

This is generally how the test is conducted:

Earphones will be placed on your head. These earphones are attached to the audiometer, a machine that delivers sounds to your ears. Pure tones and speech are delivered to one ear at a time. You are asked to raise a hand, press a button, or otherwise indicate when you hear a sound. The minimum intensity (volume) required to hear each tone is graphed. An attachment called a bone oscillator is placed against the bone behind each ear (mastoid bone) to test bone conduction. An audiologist will interpret the test.

This test does not hurt and can take up to one hour. You will feel no aftereffects.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test used to detect disorders of the middle air. Tympanometry may reveal any of the following:

• Fluid in the middle ear
• Perforated ear drum
• Impacted ear wax
• Scarring of the tympanic membrane
• Lack of contact between the conduction bones of the middle ear
• A tumor in the middle ear

How the test is performed

A soft tip plug is placed in your ear that will change the pressure in your ear, produce a tone, and measure your responses to the sound and different pressures. During the test, it is important to stay as still as possible and not speak. There may be some discomfort while the probe is in the ear, but there is no risk. You will hear a loud tone as the measurements are taken.

This test is part of a hearing test and takes fewer than 5 minutes. You will feel no aftereffects.