What Comprises Hearing Loss?

An audiogram is performed. An audiogram is a test where one sits in a sound-proof room and sound is introduced at progressively lower volumes at different frequencies. This is then compared to the levels of hearing in “normal” individuals.

When testing for hearing loss, the entire hearing apparatus from the outer ear to the inner ear is tested as well as the inner ear itself. This helps us to localize the site where hearing may be impaired. Thus, we differentiate between sensorineural hearing loss, which is hearing loss as a result of a problem at the inner ear or the auditory nerve, and conductive hearing loss, which is hearing loss resulting from a problem from the outer ear to the inner ear.

As hearing is most useful in communication, speech testing is also performed. If one is able to hear sounds well but there is a problem with speech recognition, a greater difficulty exists with clues of a potentially more complicated problem.