An audiometer is a special instrument used to identify and monitor hear loss and hearing disorders. It has standard calibrations which help to obtain the best results of the condition. Audiometric tests are carried out in a quiet soundproof room. Headphones are provided to the patient to place on his ears. The professional requests you to sit and remain calm.
Sound relayed from the machine to the patient is done at different frequencies and intensities. The patient is required to respond whenever he hears the sound by either raising his hand or pressing a button. The hand raised has to correspond with the side of the ear that has heard the sound. This is repeated until the sound is very faint. The reading is then examined for any abnormality then recorded on an audiogram.
There are many conditions that can cause a person to lose his ability to hear. Acoustic neuroma is one of such conditions. This is a slow growing tumor on the cranial nerve which is responsible for hearing and balance. Apart from hear loss it also causes facial paralysis.
Sporting activities or accidents can damage the eardrum which in turn causes hear loss. Vestibulocochlear nerve is also very sensitive and when damaged can affect the ability to hear. Conditions like tinnitus and vertigo can also result to hear loss if care is not taken.
Hearing ability can be established through a number of tests. The test is always dictated by the type of patient and the reason for the test. You may encounter patients who are newborns, young children or even adults. Because children may not tell or even realize when they have hearing problems, the audiologist is then expected to use a suitable method of diagnosis. The test principle is the same for children and adults but the process may vary to get accurate results.
An otoacoustic emission test is most preferred to test babies. This is because the test is simple to carryout, takes a very short time and the child feels no pain. It involves the placing in the childs ear a tiny earpiece attached to a microphone and a loudspeaker. A clicking sound is then produced by the speaker, which is transmitted to the cochlea. If the cochlea is functioning properly, the sound will be sent back to the ear canal and picked by the microphone.
If the sound is not heard, there could be a problem with the ear though the audiologist has to rule out other factors. If the child was not steady, he could have interrupted the process of testing and also a noisy room can also affect the results. If the test is repeated and no change is seen then an automated auditory brainstem response test is done to give accurate results.
Reinforcement audiometry is the technique recommended for testing young children. Using speakers, sound is relayed to the testing room and the child is expected to respond by turning towards the direction of sound. The audiologist rewards the child to motivate him as he performs the test repeatedly. The frequencies are altered at different levels to establish if the child can pick even the lowest sound. Testing older children and adult is different as a pure tone audiometry technique is employed. This includes the use of an audiometer to transmit sounds through a headphone in varied pitches and levels.
Sound relayed from the machine to the patient is done at different frequencies and intensities. The patient is required to respond whenever he hears the sound by either raising his hand or pressing a button. The hand raised has to correspond with the side of the ear that has heard the sound. This is repeated until the sound is very faint. The reading is then examined for any abnormality then recorded on an audiogram.
There are many conditions that can cause a person to lose his ability to hear. Acoustic neuroma is one of such conditions. This is a slow growing tumor on the cranial nerve which is responsible for hearing and balance. Apart from hear loss it also causes facial paralysis.
Sporting activities or accidents can damage the eardrum which in turn causes hear loss. Vestibulocochlear nerve is also very sensitive and when damaged can affect the ability to hear. Conditions like tinnitus and vertigo can also result to hear loss if care is not taken.
Hearing ability can be established through a number of tests. The test is always dictated by the type of patient and the reason for the test. You may encounter patients who are newborns, young children or even adults. Because children may not tell or even realize when they have hearing problems, the audiologist is then expected to use a suitable method of diagnosis. The test principle is the same for children and adults but the process may vary to get accurate results.
An otoacoustic emission test is most preferred to test babies. This is because the test is simple to carryout, takes a very short time and the child feels no pain. It involves the placing in the childs ear a tiny earpiece attached to a microphone and a loudspeaker. A clicking sound is then produced by the speaker, which is transmitted to the cochlea. If the cochlea is functioning properly, the sound will be sent back to the ear canal and picked by the microphone.
If the sound is not heard, there could be a problem with the ear though the audiologist has to rule out other factors. If the child was not steady, he could have interrupted the process of testing and also a noisy room can also affect the results. If the test is repeated and no change is seen then an automated auditory brainstem response test is done to give accurate results.
Reinforcement audiometry is the technique recommended for testing young children. Using speakers, sound is relayed to the testing room and the child is expected to respond by turning towards the direction of sound. The audiologist rewards the child to motivate him as he performs the test repeatedly. The frequencies are altered at different levels to establish if the child can pick even the lowest sound. Testing older children and adult is different as a pure tone audiometry technique is employed. This includes the use of an audiometer to transmit sounds through a headphone in varied pitches and levels.
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