Audiometric Testing

Audiometric testing is a series of tests that evaluate hearing function by measuring your ability to hear pure-tone sounds at different frequencies and volumes. Tests are typically conducted in a soundproof room, where you wear headphones and signal when you can hear sounds or repeat words you hear. Results are plotted on an audiogram, a graph that shows your hearing thresholds, and may also include additional tests like tympanometry (eardrum movement) and speech discrimination.

How it works

• Pure-tone testing: You wear headphones and are asked to signal (e.g., by pressing a button or raising a hand) each time you hear a sound. The audiologist presents tones at different pitches (frequencies) and loudness levels (decibels) to find the quietest sound you can hear at each frequency. This is known as your hearing threshold.

Other common tests

• Tympanometry: A soft probe is placed in the ear canal to measure how well your eardrum moves, which can help detect issues with the middle ear like fluid or a ruptured eardrum.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR): Electrodes on the scalp monitor your brain's electrical response to clicking noises, assessing the pathway from the ear to the brainstem.
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE): This test checks the function of the hair cells in the inner ear (cochlea).
• Acoustic reflex testing: Measures the response of tiny middle ear muscles to loud sounds. 

Results and interpretation

• The results from pure-tone testing are plotted on an audiogram, a graph that shows hearing thresholds in decibels (dB) for each frequency in Hertz (Hz).
• The audiogram indicates how much hearing loss you have and its pattern across different frequencies.
• The information from all tests together gives a complete picture of your hearing health and helps identify the cause of any hearing problems. 

Accurate Safety Compliance offers Pure Tone testing to keep your hearing conservation plan in compliance and the audiograms, like all other training records are permanently stored within your employees dashboard in our app allowing 24/7 access to them.