Hearing is a critical sense that connects us to the world, and issues with it can significantly impact daily living. From mild hearing loss to profound deafness, auditory problems can arise from various causes, including genetics, age, noise exposure, and infections. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to managing these issues effectively. With a range of hearing-related services, from diagnostic tests to advanced surgical repairs, our goal is to restore and enhance your auditory health to its fullest potential.
Hearing testing at Louisiana ENT
Hearing tests are non-invasive evaluations used to measure hearing acuity. At Louisiana ENT Specialists, we provide these critical assessments to patients of various ages, ranging from newborns to adults. The goal is to detect any degree of hearing impairment and to guide our patients through the necessary steps for improvement or adaptation.
- Pure-tone audiometry: This test determines the faintest tones a person can hear at different pitches, establishing the minimum threshold of hearing.
- Bone conduction testing: Essential for distinguishing between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, this test can help pinpoint whether issues lie in the outer/middle ear or the cochlear/nerve function.
- Speech audiometry: This test evaluates how well patients can detect and comprehend speech, providing insights into hearing loss's practical implications.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR): A more in-depth evaluation, the ABR test investigates the neural pathways from the ears to the brainstem, often used for individuals who cannot participate in conventional hearing tests.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE): This objective test measures the ear's response to sound by capturing the emissions produced by the inner ear, indicating cochlear health.
- Tympanometry: A test of middle ear function, tympanometry assesses eardrum mobility in response to air pressure and can help identify fluid in the middle ear, eardrum perforations, or wax blockages.
