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Tone audiometry is a hearing test method used to assess the hearing threshold. This hearing test allows you to determine the type and depth of this sense impairment - it determines the degree of hearing loss depending on the frequency of the sound and allows you to determine whether you have sensorineural or conductive hearing loss. How does such an audiological examination work?

Tonal audiometryishearing testwhich allows you to find out if the cause of the hearing loss is located in the middle, inner or distal ear sections of the auditory pathway. You can also do them if you are exposed to factors damaging the hearing organ (noise, vibrations, chemicals) at work.

Audiometry determines the threshold of hearing tones of various frequencies and examines the characteristics of supra-threshold hearing, such as: auditory fatigue, the ability to distinguish increments in intensity, distinguish small changes in frequency, etc.

Tonal audiometry: indications for the test

The most common indications for this hearing test are:

  • suspected conductive hearing loss
  • suspected sensorineural hearing loss
  • head injuries
  • meningitis
  • brain tumors
  • multiple sclerosis
  • diseases of the brain vessels, e.g. aneurysms

Tonal audiometry: test process

It is carried out in a specially insulated and soundproofed room (the so-called silence cabin). You have to respond every time you hear the sound that is generated from the audiometer for special headphones. Responses are measured at individual sound frequencies and intensities. The result is given in the form of curves, the so-called audiograms, showing diseases of the hearing organ and the extent of hearing impairment. Based on them, a hearing aid is also selected.

Tone audiometry: result interpretation

After the test, an audiogram is obtained, which in the form of graphs shows the function of the dependence of sound intensity (measured in decibels) on its frequency. The location and shape of the curves depends on the type of hearing loss.

  • both curves lie close to each other - there is nothing wrong with hearing, bones conduct sounds as well as the ear canal and bones in the middle ear
  • when the bone curve is correct,and the threshold of hearing through the air is much higher - it is possible to suspect diseases of the outer and middle ear with a high degree of probability, e.g. otosclerosis, i.e. excessive ossification of the ossicles - this is the so-called conductive hearing loss
  • when the curves are close to each other, but both have a high hearing threshold, the problem lies in the inner ear or deeper in the brain - this is sensorineural hearing loss

The audiogram can also accurately indicate the size of the hearing loss for specific frequencies.

Tone audiometry: contraindications

Contraindications to the audiometric test may be:

  • claustrophobia - the audiometric booth is tight and tightly closed
  • patient's lack of cooperation - the examination is based on reporting the hearing of a sound
Important

An audiometer is a hearing test instrument that produces sounds of varying intensity and frequency. After applying to the skull bone, the audiometer measures the ear's sensitivity to sounds and determines the so-called threshold of audibility of sounds. The recording of the audiometric test results is called an audiogram.

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