Comprehensive Hearing Tests
Our office can perform standardized hearing testing in our state-of-the-art soundproof booth along with other types of hearing testing including unsedated ABR. Testing can be done from infants to adults. For those with significant hearing loss, we also sell and repair state of the art hearing aids.
You can also check or monitor your hearing using our free online hearing test.
Before your visit...
Hearing Test Intake Form
Hearing Testing from Birth to Adult
The exact type of hearing test performed depends on the age of the individual but all are performed within a sound-proof booth to ensure the most reliable results. The standard comprehensive hearing evaluation performed are as follows:
- Air and Bone Conduction Hearing Evaluation which tests both the nerve as well as the air conductive capabilities of your ear at various pitches.
- Tympanogram which tests how mobile your eardrum is (which also checks for the presence of fluid and pressure abnormalities in your ear).
- Speech Reception Threshold (or Speech Awareness Threshold in children) which tests the lowest volume at which you can still understand speech.
- Speech Discrimination Score which tests the ability of your ear to understand speech at a given volume.
To see exactly how a hearing test is performed in children, watch the video below or here. After all, you certainly can't just ask a 2 years old child to push a button when they hear a tone.
If you are curious about the various causes of hearing loss, watch this video!
Newborn Hearing Screening and Follow-up (currently not offered in our office)
Newborns are very special in terms of how to test their ability to hear, especially since they cannot "talk" to give us feedback on their ability to hear. As such, we perform tests that do not depend on their ability to talk to us. These special tests include Otoacoustic Emmission Testing (OAE) and/or Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR). Instructions before your OAE/ABR.
Otoacoustic Emmission Testing (OAE) (Non-Sedated)
OAE is performed by placing an earpiece and playing clicks into the ear. The machine than listens for an echo which indicates that the ear "heard" the clicks. Instructions before your OAE/ABR exam (kids / all other ages). We offer NON-sedated OAE! For more information about this type of test, click here.
Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR) (Non-Sedated)
ABR is performed just like an OAE, but special leads are placed behind the ear and forehead which measures brainwaves (just like an EEG or an EKG) to see if the brain "hear" the clicks produced by the testing machine. There are several different types of ABR (regular, tone burst, bone conduction, ASSR) depending on the age of testing and reason for the testing. Instructions before your OAE/ABR exam (kids / all other ages). We offer NON-sedated ABR! For more information about this type of test, click here.
Tone-Burst and Bone-Conduction Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (TB-ABR, BC-ABR)
These ABR tests are performed when hearing loss is detected on standard ABR evaluation. Such testing provides a guide to what settings to utilize on hearing aids if aided hearing is needed. Such testing allows for a better hearing aid fit in infants and children who cannot communicate their needs in terms of hearing aid amplication.
Central Auditory Processing Evaluations (CAPD) - Our office at this time does not offer any CAPD testing at this time.
In our office, we perform CAPD testing between ages 3-12 years of age and who reside in Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties only. These tests are performed to see if the brain itself is having trouble understanding what the ear hears. No hearing loss is present in this situation.
- Instructions before the CAPD evaluation and Questionnaire to complete.
- Suggestions for classroom management if your child has CAP
- Suggestions for therapy if your child has CAP
For patients older than 12 years old concerned about CAPD, we recommend you see a psychologist for further testing which typically includes WAIS-IV and WJ-IV. Why? Central processing of auditory input begins once the information is transferred from the 8th nerve, to the brainstem, up the cortical pathways, across the corpus callosum, to the primary auditory cortex in the left temporal lobe of the brain. Myelination of the corpus callosum which connects the two hemispheres of the brain begins at birth and continues until early adolescence. Central auditory processing should improve and reach adult levels by the age of 12. From the perspective of Audiology and ENT, once the pathways are completely developed if the child continues to struggle academically he/she may have other higher order process deficits in the brain. Beyond age 12, clinical psychologists and other medical professionals can continue to evaluate the child.
Video of Hearing Testing in Children
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