Audiometry Test - Treatment, Procedure And Side Effects

Hearing loss is a condition that can affect anyone irrespective of his/her age. Some studies have established that it can affect 25% of the population who fall in the age bracket of 50 to 75 and can affect almost 50% of the population who are above the age of 75. In some cases, hearing loss can also occur due to an underlying medical condition like a chronic ear infection or an untreated disease. It might also occur when a person experiences physical trauma due to an injury or an accident. The other common factors of a hearing loss can include congenital disabilities, inherited conditions such bone growth, a ruptured eardrum or prolonged exposure to loud noises. There can also be a hearing loss if the nerves that carry the sound waves and medium to the brain, gets damaged or gets infected. In rare cases, a brain damage can also be one of the causes of a hearing loss.

Audiometry test is a medical evaluation to establish how well your hearing performs under normal circumstances. It also examines the intensity and the sound balances of your inner ear. The unit of sound is measured in Decibels (DB), and the tone of the sound is measured in cycles per second – measured in Hertz (Hz). A human ear has the capacity to hear tones between 20-20,000 Hz. In general, any sound that exceeds 80 DB is considered harmful. The audiometry test is always the first level of assessment to review how well your ear performs.

The audiometry test is basically done to determine how well your ear performs and how sensitive you are to sounds. The test can include multiple types, and your audiologist can determine the type of test that you need. The basic test is called the pure tone test, which measures the quietest possible sound that you might hear in different tones or pitches. A machine called as an audiometer is involved in these types of tests. It is basically a device that plays different sounds via headphones, which you have to wear over your ears and respond. The audiologist will play different sounds with varying intensity, and you have to determine via gestures that you can hear them. Mostly it involves raising your finger or your hand whenever you listen to a sound through the earphones. Based on your inputs, the audiologist can determine the comfort levels of your ear.

Another hearing test involves you to distinguish speech patterns from background noises. A sample sound may be played for you in the language you are comfortable with, and you might be asked to repeat it. This test can determine how responsive your ears are to sound. In some cases, a tuning fork may be used to determine how well your ears respond to vibrations. The bone oscillator or the fork is put behind the bones behind your ears to determine the sensitivity of your vibrations.

Any individual who would like to get his/her hearing tested can opt for this audiometry test. These tests can be performed as a standard procedure if you have a head injury or an accident to determine your hearing functions. Apart from this, the test is recommended for anyone who is approaching the age group of 50 to get their hearing checked. These tests are also performed as a routine test for pilots and deep sea divers to check their levels of alertness.

Audiometry tests are noninvasive and do not carry any risk with it. As a result, it can be undertaken by anyone. Pregnant women too can safely undergo this test. This test can also be safely had by older adults without any repercussions.

No. The tests are noninvasive and are considered extremely safe. There are no side effects associated with it. The test does not cause any pain or physical discomfort. The only part of the equipment you will be wearing would be headphones and based on your inputs, the audiologist will judge your hearing levels.

After the test, the audiologist will review the results with you. Depending on the test results, an audiologist can suggest the usage of ear plugs in your work area or any corrective measures you should take. If you have a hearing problem, then you might be asked to consult an ear specialist with your results. You might be asked to wear a hearing aid in case the problems are serious. Also, the audiologist and the ear specialist would impart general guidelines about how to clean your ears safely and how the wax build up in your ears can be controlled.

Audiometry tests are very simple and noninvasive and do not cause any pain or discomfort. The test takes about an hour, and you can get back to your normal activities immediately. There is no recovery period involved. You might not even require anyone to take care of you during the term of the test.

The average audiometry rates vary between INR 500 to INR 700 in India. It also depends on the city where you are going to get tested.

No. The results of the treatment are not permanent. The test involves the usage of headphones on your ears. There are no medications needed before the test nor is there any preparation required for the test. A recovery period is not needed, and you can get back to your normal activities immediately after the test is performed.

Even though audiometry test is a reliable channel to diagnose your hearing problems, in some cases an echo scan audio is performed. It primarily depends on the chemicals emitted by our ear, which is prone to noise and determines the pattern. However, it is rarely used and does not find acceptance as much as the audiometry test.