{"id":196,"date":"2020-10-16T12:50:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T16:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.fm1.dev\/hearing-loss-overview\/hearing-loss-testing\/"},"modified":"2024-05-15T18:11:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T22:11:26","slug":"testing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/hearing-loss\/testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Loss Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"Who should be given an audiology evaluation? \",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"An audiology evaluation should be the first course of action for anybody who even suspects a hearing loss. The sooner a diagnosis of hearing loss is made, the more successful treatment will be. Early detection means more options for the patient. Many physicians urge making audiology evaluations a routine part of your overall health care, much like regular vision exams and dental checkups. They are quick, painless and provide immediate results. \"\n    }\n  }, {\n \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What does audiological diagnostic testing cover?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"A comprehensive audiology evaluation consists of a series of individual diagnostic tests that measure different aspects of your hearing. Following a physical examination and a review of your medical history, you will be given a variety of tests to determine your hearing loss and severity.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is a pure tone audiometry test?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"This test, also known as PTA, checks the hearing in both your ears. An audiometer is a machine that delivers sound at various sound levels and frequencies. You listen through a set of headphones, and when you hear the sound, you press a button.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is tympanometry?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"If your eardrum is working properly, it should allow sound to pass to your middle ear. You can experience hearing problems if instead of delivering the sound to the middle ear, your ear drum sends it back. With tympanometry, your tester will seal your ear using a plastic bung, and use a machine to change your ear canal pressure. In this way, the tester can determine if you have any fluid behind your ear drum that could be causing sound to bounce back.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is a tuning fork test?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Tuning forks produce sound waves when tapped. With this type of test, the tester gently touches the tuning fork on their knee or elbow, making it vibrate, and then holds the tuning fork at various places around your head. This test helps to determine if sounds are not transmitting effectively into your inner ear \u2013 in other words, if you have conductive hearing loss because your auditory nerve or your inner ear are not working the way they should.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is a bone conduction test?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"A bone conduction test is a somewhat more sophisticated rendition of the tuning fork test. It involves placing a probe against your ear\u2019s mastoid bone, and allowing it to vibrate in order to determine how well sound is delivered through the mastoid bone.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is an audiogram?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"An audiogram is a means of recording the results of your hearing test on a graph. Different pitches and volumes are recorded, and the kinds of sounds that you can hear are identified. This helps to determine the kind of hearing loss you have, and enables our audiologist to determine what type of treatment or hearing aid would be best for you.\"\n}\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is speech testing?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Speech (or word recognition) testing is used to measure your speech reception threshold (SRT), or the faintest speech you can understand 50 percent of the time. This is compared with your pure-tone test results to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, your ability to separate speech from background noise will be recorded. Speech testing may be administered in either a quiet or noisy environment; results are recorded on the audiogram for easy visual reference.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is an acoustic reflex testing?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"The acoustic reflex test measures involuntary muscle contractions of the middle ear, and is used to determine the location of your hearing problem (the ossicles, cochlea, auditory nerve, etc.) as well as the type of hearing loss.\"\n }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What are otoacoustic emissions?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are sounds generated by vibrations of the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. OAE testing utilizes a tiny probe fitted with a microphone and speaker that is used to stimulate the cochlea and measure its response. Individuals with normal hearing will produce emissions; when a hearing loss exceeds 25-30 decibels, no sound will be produced. This test helps determine whether there is a blockage in the ear canal, excess fluid in the middle ear or damage to the hair cells of the cochlea. OAE testing is often included in newborn hearing screening programs.\"\n}\n  }]\n  }\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ear-to-Brain Hearing Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our doctors will go beyond a traditional hearing test and evaluate the mechanical functionality of your ear anatomy, your hearing sensitivity at each ear, your ability to hear speech in background noise environments and your auditory processing performance. Because of the relationship between aging, increasing hearing loss, decreasing balance ability and declining cognitive health, our doctors will also perform screenings of your general balance ability and cognitive health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1909\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">History and Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your visit begins with a review of your audiologic history and medical history with your doctor. Your hearing ability is as unique as you are. Everyone has a different medical history, noise exposure history and family history of hearing loss. Obtaining a thorough history is essential in managing and treating any hearing issue. We will also ask you to provide a current medications list, so we can identify any medications or supplements that may negatively impact your hearing and balance health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Otoscopy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your audiologist will use an otoscope to inspect your outer ear, ear canal and eardrum for any abnormalities, such as excessive earwax build-up. While we can provide earwax removal for most patients, we still encourage you to visit your primary care physician to have any earwax removed just before your visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Immittance Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your audiologist will perform special testing to check the function and health of your eardrum, middle ear bones and muscles, and screen for possible central nervous system problems. This is done by inserting a probe into your ear canal.&nbsp; You will feel a slight change in pressure and listen to different beeps at various pitches and volume levels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The OAE test is used to find out how well your inner ear, or cochlea, functions at different frequencies of sound that correlate with your hearing acuity. Your audiologist will insert a probe into your ear canal, and you will listen to gentle sounds. Your inner ear will send responses back to the probe for interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pure Tone Threshold Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>This is the most familiar part of our assessment protocol. Your audiologist will have you wear headphones and listen to beeps across different frequencies of sound. You will be asked to push a button when you think you hear the beeps.&nbsp; This test helps to map out your hearing ability for the frequencies that are most responsible for hearing speech information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speech Recognition Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your audiologist will then have you listen to recorded sentences under headphones. The sentences are presented at levels equivalent to average conversational speech. You will be asked to repeat back what you hear. This assessment tests your ability to hear speech accurately in quiet environments, without distractions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speech In Noise Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Speech In Noise testing has been nicknamed the \u201cstress test\u201d of the brain. This test gives your audiologist a measurable score to determine how well you can understand words clearly in the presence of competing background noise. You will be asked to wear headphones and listen to sentences administered to each ear. Each sentence will be presented with increasing levels of background conversation. You will be asked to repeat back as much of each target sentence as you can understand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Auditory Processing Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Auditory Processing is the brain\u2019s ability to filter and interpret speech sounds in different conditions. The brain must identify the incoming sounds and make an analysis of those sounds and attach meaning to them. Based on your age, auditory complaints, and prior test results, your audiologist will select special tests to evaluate your auditory processing abilities at each ear. You will listen to different recorded tests under headphones, and your audiologist will instruct you on how to perform each test.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tinnitus Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have complaints of tinnitus (i.e., ringing in the ears or other sounds), your audiologist will perform special diagnostic testing to help identify the pitch and volume level of the tinnitus at the ear. Additional testing will be done to determine what level of masking stimulus is necessary to provide relief from the tinnitus. These results can be helpful in determining appropriate treatment for your tinnitus symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Balance Screenings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The inner ear is responsible for both hearing and balance. With aging, both hearing and balance can be at risk. Because of this relationship, your audiologist may have you do a balance screening to check your balance ability. Depending upon your screening results and reports of dizziness symptoms or reduced balance ability in your case history, appropriate recommendations for follow-up diagnostic assessment will be made by your audiologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cognitive Screening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Brain function can affect hearing and balance performance, and in turn, brain function can be negatively affected by untreated or poorly treated hearing loss.&nbsp; Because of this relationship, your audiologist will encourage you to take the Cognivue Thrive Cognitive Screener. Your results can be used to determine: 1) your appropriate hearing loss treatment options; 2) the need for referral to other healthcare specialists; and 3) your benefit from successful hearing loss treatment and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Results Review and Recommendations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After your assessments, your audiologist will sit down with you and review the findings. Your audiologist will make recommendations for preventative care and management of the hearing loss that is identified. Your audiologist may also recommend additional diagnostic testing or encourage referrals to other healthcare providers. If hearing aids are recommended to treat hearing loss, your audiologist will help you determine the next steps as a part of your personalized treatment plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each component of our Ear-to-Brain Hearing Assessment is essential to provide your audiologist with the overall picture of your ear and hearing health. It is not encouraged that patients opt out of any necessary component, unless directed by your audiologist at the time of your assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Picture1-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1910\" style=\"width:415px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Special Notice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the quality and scope of care provided to you by our audiologists and support staff, please kindly allow 90 minutes for your appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please be aware that while the majority of your Ear-to-Brain Hearing Assessment can be submitted for billing to your health care insurance, there remain portions that are not insurance billable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please see our financial policy for more information about these out-of-pocket services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><p>Call <span class=\"company-name \">Audiology Center of Maine<\/span> at <a href=\"tel:+12076642123\" class=\"phone \"> <span class=\"phNum\">(207) 664-2123<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ear-to-Brain Hearing Assessment Our doctors will go beyond a traditional hearing test and evaluate the mechanical functionality of your ear anatomy, your hearing sensitivity at each ear, your ability to hear speech in background noise environments and your auditory processing performance. Because of the relationship between aging, increasing hearing loss, decreasing balance ability and declining&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":195,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"[phone format=none] | A hearing test performed by an audiologist is the most effective way to identify and treat hearing loss.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"service_tags":[],"class_list":["post-196","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1912,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196\/revisions\/1912"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/audiologymaine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_tags?post=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}