A basic hearing test or pure tone audiometry is a test to find out the softest level of sound that a person can hear at individual pitches (hearing thresholds). When a sound is heard, the person responds by pressing a button or raising a hand.
Tympanometry is a test of the middle ear. It is able to determine if the eardrum is ruptured or if there is an ear infection.
The Steady State Evoked Potentials (SSEP) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) tests are used when a person is unable to respond or cooperate in a basic hearing test. Recording electrodes will be applied on the patient's head to record the hearing nerve activity in response to sounds presented. Results from both tests can then be analyzed together to provide an estimate of the patient's hearing thresholds. The ABR test is sometimes also used to detect abnormalities in the auditory pathway.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) is a test of hair cell function in the cochlea. Often, it is used as a quick screening tool for hearing loss.
As the human ear is also linked to the balance organ, we also conduct a test set to detect anomalies in the balance organs, generally known as vestibular testing. The tests in the set capitalise on the relationship between eye movements and the balance organs. Changes in eye movement recordings form the basis of these tests. To download our brochure on dizziness, please click here.
