Audiometry refers to procedures that measure properties and parameters of the auditory system. They are used to diagnose diseases of the auditory organs and to study them. Among them, the most frequently performed test is the tone threshold audiometry. Hearing impairment ranges in a wide field between normal hearing on one side and hearing loss on the other side. The degree of impairment ranges from the limited experience of music, no longer being able to hear birds chirping, to restrictions in understanding speech, from “false hearing” for high frequencies and the associated change in the sound image, to the stressful circumstance of gradual hearing loss and severe restriction of speech understanding.
The sound threshold audiometry allows the determination of the hearing loss frequency-specific in Hertz (Hz) after Determines its extent in decibels (dB).
Indications (areas of application)
- Suspicion of hearing impairment
- Suspicion of age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Occupations with exposure to noise
- Acute sensorineural hearing loss
- Z. E.g. noise damage, hearing loss, etc.
- For infections such as herpes, measles, mumps, toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease.
- Chronic progressive conductive disorders due to, for example, otosclerosis.
- Sound sensation damage after taking certain medications.
- Diabetes mellitus and smoking
- As well as for other individual health risks
The procedure
In tone threshold audiometry, tones of different frequencies are played to the patient at different volumes, and the volume at which the patient can just hear the tone of that frequency is determined. The threshold of audibility is called “hearing threshold”. Considerable differences in high and low tones are possible. The test tones are usually delivered laterally separated via headphones and via a so-called bone-conduction earphone, which is placed on the skull bone behind the ear. In the latter case, the sound is transmitted directly to the inner ear via the bone. Sound transmission via the bone conduction hearing aid makes it possible to determine whether the hearing loss is due to damage to the inner ear (sound perception disorder) or the middle ear (sound conduction disorder). Combinations of both disorders are also possible.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is characterized by a more or less symmetrical impairment of hearing in relation to the ears, with a slope in the higher hearing frequencies.
Audiometry indicates hearing damage in a timely manner, long before there is a reduction in speech comprehension that is visible to the patient.
Your benefit
Audiometry is used for early diagnosis of damage to the inner ear (sound perception disorder) or middle ear (sound conduction disorder). Only early diagnosis enables timely therapy.
Audiometry serves to protect you from progressive hearing loss and is thus one of the important preventive measures.