Diagnostic Hearing Assessment
THSG offers the following list of diagnostic hearing tests:
- Pure-Tone Thresholds Audiometry
- Speech Audiometry
- Tympanometry
- Free-Field Aided Test
It is crucial that the hearing tests are performed by qualified personnel with well calibrated equipment in a properly sound treated booth. This ensures accurate test results with ear-specific and frequency-specific information on the type and degree of hearing loss. This will form the basis to evaluate and recommend the most appropriate hearing loss treatment.
At THSG, all diagnostic hearing tests are performed by our professionally qualified audiologists in an acoustically-treated sound booth. The tests results are then clearly and thoughtfully explained to patients for clarity and peace of mind.
Puretone audiometry is a hearing test to establish the presence or absence of hearing loss. If hearing loss is present, the type and degree of hearing loss will be determined.
How is it Performed?
The patient will be seated in a soundproof booth, with the Audiologist seated outside. The Audiologist will have a clear view of the patient through a glass window, and will perform the test using a calibrated audiometer. The test will take about 20 minutes and comprises of two parts:
- Air-conduction thresholds test
In an air-conduction test, test signals are delivered through a pair of headphones or insert earphones. - Bone-conduction thresholds test
In bone-conduction tests, test signals are delivered through a bone vibrator that conducts the sound directly to the inner ear.
Test signals range from 250 Hz to 8 KHz and the patients are required to respond by pressing a button when he/she hears the test signals.
At the end of the assessment, patients will be given a comprehensive hearing test report consisting of ear-specific and frequency-specific information that will indicate the type and degree of the hearing impairment.
Tympanometry is a test of the middle ear function and the eardrum. It provides information on the condition of the middle ear and assesses the mobility of the eardrum by varying the air pressure in the ear canal.
The test helps to:
- Assess the eardrum movement (compliance)
- Monitor chronic middle ear fluid
- Confirm tympanic membrane perforation
- Monitor Eustachian tube function
It is important to note that tympanometry is not a hearing test. It does not assess the sensitivity of hearing and the results of this test should be viewed together with puretone audiometry. Tympanometry testing helps to distinguish between sensorinneural and conductive hearing loss, especially middle ear conditions such as otitis media with effusion, otosclerosis, cholesteatoma, tympanic membrane scarring, tympanosclerosis, etc.
How is it Performed?
The test is performed by inserting the tympanometer probe into the ear canal, which generates a puretone signal and measures the sound reflected from the eardrum at different pressures. The wave form produced is called a tympanogram and can be broadly classified into 3 types:
Tympanometry is an objective test that can be easily performed on patients of all ages.
Speech audiometry is a hearing test that uses speech stimulus to find out about a person’s ability to hear and understand speech.
Speech test helps in different aspects:
- To cross check the puretone hearing thresholds
- To identify functional hearing loss
- To select the most suitable hearing aid
- To assess the suitability of various implant solutions
How is it Performed?
The patient will be seated in a calibrated, soundproof room with live or recorded speech stimulus delivered either through headphones or speakers. The patient will be required to repeat the speech stimulus heard. A speech score will then be calculated based on the number of words that are repeated correctly.
Free-Field Aided Test
This free-field aided test is performed with the patient putting on his/her hearing aids or implant devices and sitting in a soundproof booth with the test signals delivered through speakers. An aided hearing thresholds will assist the audiologist to further fine tune the hearing devices.