Audiometry

Audiometry is a test to measure how well a person can hear. The audiometer is a machine that produces pure tones of different pitch and allows the volume to be slowly increased. The patient puts on headphones through which sounds of varying pitch are sent to each ear, one at a time, and the volume is increased until the patient signals that the sound can be heard. The results are recorded on a graph calledan audiogram, and they give good indications of the type and cause of deafness. Audiometry is performed in a special soundproof and vibration-free room, and takes 30 to 60 minutes.

A newer form of audiometry is called evoked response audiometry (ERA), a test that uses the ELETROENCEPHALOGRAM to record electrical changesin the brain when it registers sounds. This method can be used to test the hearing of young children, even newborn babies.

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