What happens during a hearing test?Initial hearing tests are often done during regular checkups. If there is hearing loss, your child may be tested and treated by one of the following providers:An audiologist, a health care provider who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing hearing lossAn otolaryngologist (ENT), a doctor specializing in treating diseases and conditions of the ears, nose, and throat.There are several types of hearing tests. The type of tests given depends on age and symptoms. For infants and young children, testing involves using sensors (which look like small stickers) or probes to measure hearing. They don't require a verbal response. Older children may be given sound tests. Sound tests check for response to tones or words delivered at different pitches, volumes, and/or noise environments.Auditory brainstorm (ABR) test. This checks for sensorineural hearing loss. It measures how the brain responds to sound. It is most often used to test infants, including newborns. During this test:The audiologist or other provider will place electrodes on the scalp and behind each ear. The electrodes are connected to a computer.Tiny earphones will be placed inside the ears.Clicks and tones will be sent to the earphones.The electrodes measure the brain's response to the sounds and will display the results on the computer.Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test. This test is used for infants and young children. During the test:The audiologist or other provider will place a small probe that looks like an earphone inside the ear canal.Sound will be sent to the probe.The probe records and measures the inner ear's response to the sounds.The test can find hearing loss, but can't tell the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.Tympanometry tests how well your eardrum moves. During the test:The audiologist or other provider will place a small device inside the ear canal.The device will push air into the ear, making the eardrum move back and forth.A machine records the movement on graphs called tympanograms.The test helps find out if there is an ear infection or other problems such as fluid or wax buildup, or a hole or tear in the eardrum.This test requires your child to sit very still, so it's not usually used on infants or young children.The following are other types of sound tests:Acoustic Reflex Measures also called middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR), test how well the ear responds to loud sounds. In normal hearing, a tiny muscle inside the ear tightens when you hear loud noises. This is called the acoustic reflex. It happens without you knowing it. During the test:The audiologist or other provider will place a soft rubber tip inside the ear.A series of loud sounds will be sent through the tips and recorded onto a machine.The machine will show when or if the sound has triggered a reflex.If hearing loss is bad, the sound may have to be very loud to trigger a reflex, or it may not trigger the reflex at all.Pure-tone test, also known as audiometry. During this test:Your child will put on headphones.A series of tones will be sent to the headphones.The audiologist or other provider will change the pitch and loudness of the tones at different points during the test. At some points, the tones may be barely audible.The provider will ask your child to respond whenever they hear the tones. The response may be to raise a hand or press a button.The test helps find the quietest sounds your child can hear at different pitches.Tuning fork tests. A tuning fork is a two-pronged metal device that makes a tone when it vibrates. During the test:The audiologist or other provider will place the tuning fork behind the ear or on top of the head.The provider will hit the fork so that it makes a tone.Your child will be asked to tell the provider whenever you hear the tone at different volumes, or if they heard the sound in the left ear, right ear, or both equally.The test can show if there is hearing loss in one or both ears. It can also show which type of hearing loss your child has (conductive or sensorineural).Speech and word recognition  can show how well your child can hear spoken language. During the test:Your child will put on headphones.The audiologist will talk through the headphones, and ask your child to repeat a series of simple words, spoken at different volumes.The provider will record the softest speech your child is able to hear.Some of the testing may be done in a noisy environment, because many people with hearing loss have trouble understanding speech in loud places.These tests are done on children old enough to talk and understand language.
