It is crucial that the ears are cleared of excessive wax. Otherwise, this can interfere with accurate test results.

WE DO NOT TEST IF EAR CANALS HAVE EXCESSIVE WAX OR THE EAR CANAL IS OCCLUDED WITH WAX.

Tympanometric Testing:

• An objective test assessment of middle ear function and tympanic membrane (eardrum) mobility

• Performed by varying air pressure in the ear canal to measure eardrum response

• Helps evaluate common middle ear concerns such as muffled hearing, tinnitus, ear pressure/fullness, or “popping” sensations

• Abnormal results may indicate the need for medical referral or intervention

• Certain findings can assist in identifying conductive or mixed hearing loss

Acoustic Reflex Testing (Ipsilateral & Contralateral):

• Assesses the function of the middle ear, cochlea, auditory nerve, and brainstem pathways by measuring reflexive contractions of the middle ear muscles in response to sound

• Evaluates the auditory system for potential abnormalities affecting hearing sensitivity or nerve function

• Detects patterns that may help differentiate between sensorineural, conductive, or retrocochlear hearing issues.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing:

• Assesses outer hair cell function in the cochlea by measuring sounds the inner ear produces in response to auditory stimuli.

• Can provide an objective measure of cochlear health in individuals who cannot actively respond to sounds (infants, young children, or certain adults)

• Support diagnostic decisions by helping differentiate between cochlear and retrocochlear hearing problems (e.g., auditory neuropathy, hidden hearing loss, etc.)

Pure Tone Threshold Testing – Air Conduction

• Assesses hearing sensitivity in each ear individually using headphones or inserts

• Determines the softest sounds a person can hear from low to high pitches

• Identifies the degree and configuration of hearing loss (mild, moderate, moderately, severe, severe, or profound)

Pure Tone Threshold Testing – Bone Conduction

• Assesses cochlear (inner ear) hearing sensitivity directly, bypassing the outer and middle ear

• Determines the softest sounds a person can hear from low to high pitches using a bone oscillator placed on the mastoid

• Determines the type of hearing loss (sensorineural, conductive, or mixed) by comparing bone conduction thresholds to air conduction thresholds

• Provides diagnostic information to guide medical or audiologic recommendations

Tone Decay Testing:

• Assesses the ear’s ability to sustain hearing a continuous tone, also referred to as auditory fatigue

• Identifies potential retrocochlear abnormalities, which may indicate issues with the auditory nerve (cranial nerve VIII) or the cerebellopontine angle

• Helps differentiate between cochlear and retrocochlear hearing issues to guide further evaluation or referral

Speech Discrimination Testing:

• Measures the patient’s ability to correctly identify spoken words presented at a comfortable listening level above the hearing threshold

• Provides a percentage score representing how well the patient understands speech in quiet listening conditions

• Sets realistic expectations for hearing aid use, helping patients understand how they may perceive speech with amplification

• Highlights the importance of timely intervention, as delaying hearing aid fitting may reduce future speech understanding

• Supports treatment planning, including hearing aid selection, programming, and auditory rehabilitation strategies

QuickSIN (Speech-in-Noise) Testing

• Assesses the patient’s ability to understand speech in background noise, simulating real-world listening environments

• Sets realistic expectations for communication in noisy environments, guiding counseling and auditory rehabilitation

Most Comfortable Level (MCL) Testing

• Identifies the sound level a patient finds comfortably loud for sustained listening

• Helps guide hearing aid programming and speech testing

• Assesses a patient’s dynamic hearing range by presenting speech or tones while adjusting the intensity up or down in small steps while the patient indicates when the sound feels the most comfortable

Uncomfortable Loudness Level (UCL) Testing

• Identifies sound levels that a patient finds uncomfortably loud

• Helps define a patient’s upper loudness limit to prevent over-amplification

• Assesses a patient’s dynamic hearing range by gradually increasing the intensity of sounds from a comfortable level until the patient signals that the sound has become uncomfortable, before it is painful.

Tinnitus Evaluation

Pitch Matching

• Identifies the pitch (frequency) of the patient’s tinnitus

• The patient listens to tones and selects the closest match

• Results help guide management and sound therapy options

Tinnitus Masking

• Assesses how external sounds affect tinnitus perception

• Narrow band noise is presented at different levels

• Helps determine if sound can reduce or mask the tinnitus

• Findings support treatment recommendations (e.g., sound therapy, hearing aids)