Audiometry Test

Function

Audiometry is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to measure a person's ability to hear sounds of varying intensities (loudness) and frequencies (pitch). Pure-tone audiometry, the most common form, determines the softest sound a person can hear at least 50% of the time. This evaluates the entire auditory system, from the outer ear through the middle ear to the inner ear and the auditory nerve.

Why it is Ordered

This test is the gold standard for diagnosing hearing loss. It is ordered when a patient reports hearing difficulty, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or balance issues (vertigo). It is also used in occupational health to monitor workers exposed to loud noises and in geriatric care to assess the need for hearing aids. By comparing air conduction and bone conduction, clinicians can pinpoint the anatomical location of the hearing deficit.

Associated Conditions

• Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve, often due to aging (presbycusis) or noise exposure.
• Conductive Hearing Loss: Problems with the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear bones, such as fluid from an infection or otosclerosis.
• Meniere's Disease: An inner ear disorder that causes episodes of vertigo and fluctuating hearing loss.
• Acoustic Neuroma: A benign tumor on the vestibular nerve that can cause unilateral hearing loss.