When are hearing tests carried out?
Hearing tests are usually carried out for two reasons; firstly, they are done on newborn babies and young children as part of routine developmental tests and secondly they are done when an individual is experiencing difficulties with their hearing or has a hearing impairment.
Hearing tests for newborn babies are carried out in the first few weeks after the baby is born. If there is a problem with the baby’s hearing, further tests may be required and the baby will be referred to an audiology specialist.
Hearing tests are usually carried out in adults when an individual has symptoms of hearing loss or problems with their hearing or balance; these may include:
- Tinnitus (ringing ears)
- Soreness and pain in the ears
- Dizziness and problems with balance
- Fluid or blood coming out of one or both ears
Hearing tests may also be carried out if an individual has suffered a head injury.
Why are hearing tests ordered?
Hearing tests are ordered for all babies in the UK as part of their routine set of developmental checks. It is important that hearing problems are diagnosed as early as possible so that the child can receive the appropriate treatment. In the past, many children with hearing problems were not diagnosed until the age of 18 months. However, the introduction of routine audiology tests for newborn babies has meant that many children have been diagnosed and subsequently treated much earlier. Early diagnosis is important because hearing plays an important role in a child’s development.
Adult hearing tests are used to test for hearing impairment. Many people may have impaired hearing without even realising it because hearing loss is usually a gradual process. Some hearing problems cause temporary deafness, while others may contribute to permanent hearing loss. Once the cause of the problems has been identified, an appropriate course of action can be determined.
What happens during an audiology test?
As part of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, all newborn babies in the UK are tested; the otoacoustic emissions test (OAE) is usually used for newborn babies. The OAE test requires the insertion of a small probe into the baby’s ear. The probe makes a subtle noise, which causes the baby’s ear to produce a corresponding noise; this echo is recognised as the otoacoustic emission. The sound made by the baby’s ear (the otoacoustic emission) is measured by a computer. Most babies who can hear will register this sound, while some babies may not produce a sound the first time and the test will be repeated if necessary. The OEA test is very simple and painless and takes just a few minutes to produce a result.
In some cases, the ABR (auditory brain response) audiology test may be carried out, which involves measuring the child’s response to sounds which are played through earphones.
Adult hearing tests also include a physical examination of the ear. This is to check for obstructions, damage to the structures of the ear or symptoms of conditions which may be causing problems with hearing. Additional tests include the whisper test (when the doctor or nurse whispers in the patient’s ear, with the other ear blocked), the tuning fork test (this involves holding a tuning fork to the ear to determine how well the individual can hear sounds that are transmitted through the air) and the audiometry test; this involves the individual listening to different sounds and saying whether or not they can hear the sounds.
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