Hearing Diagnostics & Tests

This test is used to assess hair cell function. A small instrument is placed in the ear and produces sounds. The sounds returned to the instrument are then measured.

To hear properly, the tympanic membrane (eardrum) must function properly. Tympanometry creates variations in air pressure and evaluates how the eardrum responds to the changes.

Audiometry identifies the lowest level at which you can hear a tone 50% of the time. Each ear is assessed separately, and the results are recorded on an audiogram for a visual representation of your hearing ability.

Speech testing focuses on assessing your ability to hear and understand language. Speech comprehension is tested with a variety of background noise to simulate real-life situations.

Pure-tone air and bone conduction testing check your ability to hear different tones at different pitches. Each ear is tested individually. During bone conduction testing, instead of transmitting tones through the air, a bone oscillator will be held behind the ear and transmit the tones through the bone.

Sometimes problems with hearing don’t originate in the ear. If the brain doesn’t process signals from the ears correctly, you may have an auditory processing disorder. The hearing health care professionals at Live Better Hearing administer tests to assess the auditory system’s physiologic responses to sound.

The federal government regulates hearing safety in the workplace. If your job requires regular hearing assessments, schedule your appointment with Live Better Hearing. We will keep you in compliance.

At the conclusion of your hearing tests, the hearing health care professional from Live Better Hearing will review the results. If your type of hearing loss can be improved with the use of hearing aids or other assistive hearing technology, your options are discussed, and recommendations will be made.

This computerized test evaluates how well sounds travel along the hearing nerve pathways from the ear to the brainstem.

Newborn screening and diagnosis helps ensure all babies who may have hearing loss are identified as soon as possible. This allows doctors and parents to coordinate early intervention services, which can greatly impact a child's communication and language development.

About 1 in every 150 babies will not pass the initial hearing screening at birth and will need to follow-up with an audiologist who has experience working with babies to do additional testing.

Be sure to talk with your baby's pediatrician about scheduling a further test with Live Better Hearing + Balance if your baby does not pass the initial hearing screening at birth. The testing is non-invasive and can usually be done while the baby sleeps in the mother's arms.  It should be done as soon as possible.

Hearing tests for children are sometimes different than for adults depending on the age and development level of the child. For a toddler, the test may include play audiometry, in which the hearing test is made into a fun game for the child. The child will be asked to do something every time the sound is heard (like drop a block into a bucket as an example). This test relies on the child's cooperation, which may not always be possible. Another test is called visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA). This is a test where the child is trained to look toward a sound source. When the child gives a correct response, the child is rewarded. The test is most often used for children between 6 months to 2 years old. For older kids, they will usually be asked to raise their hand when they hear a faint beeping sound in their ears through headphones.