The word audiometry describes a branch of hearing studies concerned with measuring how accurately people can hear variations in the intensity, pitch, frequency, and tonal purity of different sounds. An audiometric hearing testing in Lancaster, PA is thus used to deterine both hearing levels and a patient’s ability to distinguish between background noise and speech. The results are measured on an audiogram and used to help audiologists make important choices regarding treatment of their patients’ hearing loss.
The threshold most tests are looking for is a patient’s ability to hear a sound at all, not to distinguish it from other sounds. Audiometric testing is usually performed for each ear separately, as hearing loss is not always, or even usually, uniformly bilateral. Many patients experience hearing loss in only one ear, which is known as unilateral hearing loss, while others experience hearing loss at different levels in each ear.
Audiometric testing is only the first step toward actually solving the problems posed by a patient’s hearing loss. Whether it is due to prolonged noise exposure in the workplace or during recreational activities, genetic predisposition, or other factors, will often influence what type of device is prescribed to treat the problem as well. Environmental and workplace noise exposure is actually the most common cause of hearing loss in today’s world, so any relevant history regarding this or other potentially related issues should be given to the doctor performing the tests.
All hearing tests are generally divided into two categories: subjective and objective. These must often be used in conjunction with each other to determine the extent of a patient’s hearing loss and what daily functions will be impacted by it. Objective tests produce physical readings that do not require the active cooperation or participation of the patient being tested, while subjective tests usually evaluate things like word recognition and speech awareness and do not produce mathematically measurable results.
Audiometric hearing testing in Lancaster, PA must be performed by a specialist. The doctor responsible for the test is usually either an otolaryngologist or an audiologist. Patients concerned they may be losing their hearing can visit to find a dedicated medical practice that can help.