1. TOPIC 3 OVERVIEW OF HEARING ASSESSMENT

2. Hearing Evaluation “The main purpose of the hearing evaluation is to define the nature and extent of the hearing impairment”

3. 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?

4. Why is the Client Here? The answer to this question comes from: The referral source Self Student clinician ENT/Family physician Case History

5. The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Take a casual look Otoscopy Tympanometry

6. Otoscopy Device used Otoscope o Light source o Magnifier o Speculum Procedure Inspection of the ear canal Inspection of the ear drum

7. The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Thresholds to tones and speech Pure tone audiogram

8. The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Air conduction Bone conduction

9. The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Measuring speech recognition

10. 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

11. The Evaluation Process Evaluating the outer and middle ear Evaluating sensitivity Determining the type of hearing loss Measuring speech recognition Measuring auditory processing

12. 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

13. 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