Hearing Evaluations
Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations include
- Pure tone thresholds
- Speech Audiometry
- Middle ear Assessment
- Otoacoustic Emissions Testing
More than 24 million Americans have some type of hearing problem. Hearing difficulties are often unrecognized by the person involved. The first step in the treatment of a hearing problem is a hearing evaluation by an audiologist. A comprehensive hearing evaluation by a licensed and certified audiologist will help determine the nature of the hearing loss. After that has been identified the most appropriate treatment strategy can be determined.
Types of Hearing Loss and Common Causes
Conductive Hearing Loss
A conductive hearing loss is the result of the disruption of sound transmission through the outer and middle ear. People with conductivce hearing losses often report that sounds are not loud enough.
Common Causes
- Outer and middle ear infections
- Perforated ear drum
- Small or missing ear canals
- Poorly formed middle ear bones
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A sensorineural hearing loss is the result of damage to the inner ear. This is the portion of the ear connected to the hearing nerve that transmits sound to the brain. People with sensorineural hearing losses report that sounds are not loud enough and that their speech understanding is poor.
Common Causes
- Family history
- Aging
- Exposure to loud sounds
- Certain types of prescription drugs
- Diseases of the inner ear
Central Hearing Loss or Auditory Processing Disorders
The person with an auditory processing disorder has a problem processing sound in the brain or the central nervous system. The individual with an Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) has normal hearing but will often have complaints similar to those with a hearing loss.
Causes of CAPD are not fully understood at this time
Treatment Strategies
- Listening devices to help improve the signal to noise ratio
- Language therapy