Audiological Evaluation

An audiological evaluation consists of several different components: a case history, physical examination of the ears, pure tone test, speech audiometric tests, tympanometry, and reflex testing.

Hearing Aid Evaluation and Dispensing

The audiologist will review each component of the audiological evaluation to obtain a profile of an individual's hearing abilities and needs. The audiologist will then help the patient to decide which hearing aid (if any) is most appropriate for your specific hearing loss, lifestyle, and budget.

When a hearing aid is provided for a patient, we make sure each patient understands all aspects of care, use and maintenance of the device(s) and communication strategies for a happy home!

Hearing Aid Testing and Repair

If you are having trouble with your hearing aid and think it may be broken, we will be able to test it, and possibly repair the aid at the office. If we cannot repair the aid, we can send it to a company to have it repaired (per the patient's request).

Real-ear measurements

These are measurements taken to determine if your hearing aid is working the way it should be. These measurements are made while the hearing aid is in your ear.

Tympanometry

This is a test to see how well your middle ear is functioning. This testing can assist in the detection of an ear infection, holes in the eardrum, wax blocking the ear canal, or other problems that indicate the need for a medical evaluation.

Acoustic Reflexes

The audiologist may measure your acoustic reflex, a contraction of a muscle in your middle ear (right behind your eardrum) in response to certain sounds--a reaction that serves to protect the ear from potentially damaging noise levels. The level of response or the absence of the acoustic reflex offers additional diagnostic information. This is an easy and pain-free test.

Auditory Brain Stem Response

This is a test of your hearing nerve (Cranial Nerve 8). It takes about 45-60 minutes and involves relaxing in a supine position and listening to a "clicking" noises. It is a very easy, non-invasive test and can often tell a lot about the function of your hearing nerve.

Central Auditory Processing Testing

This is specialized hearing testing for individuals who have difficulty processing or interpreting auditory information when presented in a less than optimal listening environment. Usually individuals with a central auditory disorder have normal hearing when taking a traditional hearing tests but are unable to interpret or process speech when in an environment which is less than quiet.

The vast majority of children and adults with Central Auditory Processing Disorder that have been evaluated at the Hearing Assessment Center can hear even the faintest of sounds, but are unable to process verbal stimuli in an effective manner in their everyday listening situations. Environments such as a classroom setting, the work place, community gatherings, and church are often seen as threatening because of this auditory difficulty.

Individuals who have a CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder) have particular difficulty concentrating when in an environment which is not perfectly quiet. Understanding verbal messages are difficult for these individuals, particularly when someone else is talking or ambient noise is present in the background. These individuals often have to work harder than others just trying to receive auditory information in a meaningful manner. It is a very frustrating situation for individuals when they can hear "perfectly" but can not process auditory speech information in a meaningful way.

Otoacoustic Emissions Testing

This is a test of your inner ear (cochlea) and involves listening to very soft sounds. A machine records your inner ear's involuntary responses (in the form of very quiet sound waves). The primary purpose of otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing is to determine cochlear status, specifically hair cell function.

Dizziness evaluation/ENG/VNG

This is a set of tests to help rule out the cause of a balance problem. Depending on your particular case we may be able to treat your problem in the office. If not, we will refer you to someone who can help you further. This is the first step to determining why you are having trouble.

Electrochochleography

‘Electrocochleography’ (ECochG) is a method for recording the electrical potentials of the cochlea (the inner ear). The most popular applications for this test are:

• diagnosis/assessment/monitoring of Meniere's disease/endolymphatic hydrops and the assessment/monitoring of treatment strategies for these disorders;
• enhancement of wave I of the ABR in the presence of hearing loss or when less than optimal recording conditions were used to obtain wave I;
• measurement and monitoring of cochlear and auditory nerve function during surgery involving the auditory periphery

Preschool hearing evaluations

Parents will be asked questions regarding speech and language development, recognition of and response to familiar sounds (such as a telephone ringing, knock at the door, or music), and whether the child startles in response to loud sounds (such as a dog barking. balloon popping, or a door slamming). The answers to these and other questions, as well as any volunteered information, will assist in obtaining useful background data. Then an audiological evaluation will be performed. Testing is relatively quick and fun for most children.

Earwax (cerumen) removal

Sometimes earwax can be taken out at the office. If not, we will recommend drops that will help or a referral to an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat physician) for cerumen management.

Tinnitus evaluations and recommendations

The tinnitus evaluation includes a comprehensive hearing evaluation, a thorough case history, and a tinnitus match procedure. This procedure determines the type, loudness and frequency of your tinnitus. Depending upon the results of this evaluation, you may also undergo a tinnitus masking procedure to determine if your tinnitus can be made softer or eliminated. The audiologist will determine the reason for the tinnitus, and will make recommendations based on his/her findings.

Infant hearing screenings and follow-up

This involves testing the hearing of babies (please bring your child sleepy - if your child is sleeping it makes it a lot easier!) The testing takes between 10 and 40 minutes depending on how restless your child is and what type of results are obtained.

Sedated ABR at St. Joseph's Medical Center

This is specialized testing to determine if a child has a hearing loss, and/or to what extent. It is performed at St. Joseph's Hospital.

An Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test is a sleep EEG hearing test which shows the softest sounds your child's ears can detect at various pitches. Four small stickers on your child's head, connected to leads going into a computer. Sounds will be presented through an earphone to each ear separately while a computer analyzes the changes in the brain wave pattern in response to sounds.

The test is not painful or uncomfortable in any way, but it is necessary for your child to be asleep in order to obtain clear recordings during the test. The medication used for helping your child sleep is called chloral hydrate. It will be given to the child orally.

You will be in the room with your child during the test, and the results will be explained immediately afterward.

Please bring:

• Anything your child usually likes to fall asleep with, such as a toy or blanket
• A stroller if your child would be heavy to carry to the car afterward, usually kids are a little groggy after the testing.