HEARING TESTS :

There are different types of Hearing Tests available ranging from children to adults which can not only find out the true and accurate thresholds of the patients but can also determine at what level of the ear is the defect; i.e. Hearing Tests can exactly predict the true nature (conductive, sensorineural, Mixed) and orientation of the Hearing Loss.

Below mentioned are the Tests required to check the hearing health of an individual:

• Puretone Audiometry (PTA Test)

Puretone Audiometry Test (PTA) :

As the name suggests, this tests involves the use of pure tones i.e. tones which can be accurately provided at desired frequencies. The test requires a sound proof setup as the exact hearing thresholds of the individual for the particular tone at different frequency levels is to be monitored. This is a subjective type test which requires active participation/ cooperation by the patient and hence can be implied on individuals above the age of 6. This test can bring out the degree, configuration and type of hearing loss if any. PTA Test has now become the most widely accepted test and is most relied upon by ENT doctors as well as Audiologists.

Play Audiometry (PA Test) :

Play Audiometry Testing is a slight modified version of Pure Tone Audiometry and is implied on children to get their focus and attention to respond to tones. In this test a kind of a game is set in front of a child using toys wherein the child has to perform an act using the toys whenever he hears a tone. This test has proved to be immensely useful in case of children as one may not get accurate responses using the4 traditional method of PTA testing as done on adults.

Impedance Audiometry (IA) :

Impedance Audiometry or Tympanometry is the most commonly used and preferred method of testing pathologies/ conditions in the middle ear, the mobility of the Tympanic Membrane or the ear drum as well as the bones in the middle ear region. The test is performed using a probe tube which creates a varying pressure in the ear canal thus measuring the energy transmission through the middle ear. The test can not only determine the hearing pathology in the middle ear but can be also used alongside the results of the PTA Testing to provide effective diagnosis to the patient.