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.
A damaged eardrum or ossicle can cause conductive hearing loss. Damaged vestibulocochlear nerve can result to Sensorineural hearing loss. Sometimes a person can experience buzzing sounds which are also called tinnitus. Vertigo is another condition if not managed properly can result to hearing loss.
There are a number of tests than can be done to check for hearing ability. This are carried out according to the type of patient and the reason the test is to be done. The type of patient can be a newborn baby, young children or even adults. Children are not able to say when they have hearing problems. The audiologist has to use special equipments to test them. The principle followed in testing children is the same but the way of doing it may vary to be able to obtain more accurate results.
To test babies, the audiologist uses an otoacoustic emission test. This test is fast, simple and the child does not feel any pain. A tiny earpiece which contains a microphone and a small loudspeaker is securely placed in the ear. The loudspeaker produces clicking sound inside the ear which is passed to the cochlea. A well functioning cochlea responds by resending the sound to the ear canal which is heard by the microphone.
A case where no sound is heard could mean an hearing problem though other factors have to be ruled out. These factors can be an unsettled child, a noisy room or even the presence of some fluid in the ear after birth. The test has to be done several times and if not satisfactory another more sensitive test called automated auditory brainstem response is done. Both tests have to be done when the child is asleep to avoid interruption.
A technique called reinforcement audiometry is used to test young children. This test uses speakers as the sound outlet. The child is required to respond by confirming the location of the speaker when he hears the sound. This is done repeatedly at different frequencies. Adults and much grown children are tested using a technique called pure tone audiometry where an audiometer is used to produce sound which is relayed to the headphones at varied intensities and frequencies.
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.
A damaged eardrum or ossicle can cause conductive hearing loss. Damaged vestibulocochlear nerve can result to Sensorineural hearing loss. Sometimes a person can experience buzzing sounds which are also called tinnitus. Vertigo is another condition if not managed properly can result to hearing loss.
There are a number of tests than can be done to check for hearing ability. This are carried out according to the type of patient and the reason the test is to be done. The type of patient can be a newborn baby, young children or even adults. Children are not able to say when they have hearing problems. The audiologist has to use special equipments to test them. The principle followed in testing children is the same but the way of doing it may vary to be able to obtain more accurate results.
To test babies, the audiologist uses an otoacoustic emission test. This test is fast, simple and the child does not feel any pain. A tiny earpiece which contains a microphone and a small loudspeaker is securely placed in the ear. The loudspeaker produces clicking sound inside the ear which is passed to the cochlea. A well functioning cochlea responds by resending the sound to the ear canal which is heard by the microphone.
A case where no sound is heard could mean an hearing problem though other factors have to be ruled out. These factors can be an unsettled child, a noisy room or even the presence of some fluid in the ear after birth. The test has to be done several times and if not satisfactory another more sensitive test called automated auditory brainstem response is done. Both tests have to be done when the child is asleep to avoid interruption.
A technique called reinforcement audiometry is used to test young children. This test uses speakers as the sound outlet. The child is required to respond by confirming the location of the speaker when he hears the sound. This is done repeatedly at different frequencies. Adults and much grown children are tested using a technique called pure tone audiometry where an audiometer is used to produce sound which is relayed to the headphones at varied intensities and frequencies.
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