TOPIC 3 OVERVIEW OF HEARING ASSESSMENT
Hearing Evaluation “The main purpose of the hearing evaluation is to define the nature and extent of the hearing impairment”
Questions That Must Be Answered Why is the client here? Should the client be referred medically? What is the hearing sensitivity in each ear? How well does each ear understand speech? What is the degree and extent of the hearing handicap?
Why is the Client Here? The answer to this question comes from: The referral source Self Student clinician ENT/Family physician Case History
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Take a casual look Otoscopy Tympanometry
Otoscopy Device used Otoscope o Light source o Magnifier o Speculum Procedure Inspection of the ear canal Inspection of the ear drum
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Thresholds to tones and speech Pure tone audiogram
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Air conduction Bone conduction
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Measuring speech recognition
Measuring Speech Recognition Estimates the relative use of residual hearing Predicts the initial benefit of amplification Screens for retrocochlear function Verifies the degree of hearing handicap
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Measuring speech recognition Measuring auditory processing
Tests of auditory processing Commercially available tests: Assess speech recognition across a range of intensities Assess speech recognition in the presence of competing signals Measure dichotic listening
The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Measuring speech recognition Measuring auditory processing Measuring hearing disability and handicap