Audiology

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Ear anatomy

Audiometry; Hearing test; Audiography (audiogram)

• The ability to hear a whisper, normal speech, and a ticking watch is normal.
• The ability to hear a tuning fork through air and bone is normal.
• In detailed audiometry, hearing is normal if tones from 250 Hz through 8000 Hz can be heard at 25 dB or lower.

There are many different kinds and degrees of hearing loss. Some include only the loss of the ability to hear high or low tones, or the loss of only air or bone conduction. The inability to hear pure tones below 25 dB indicates some extent of hearing loss.

The extent and kind of hearing loss may give clues to the cause and the prognosis (probable outcome).

The following conditions may affect test results:

• Acoustic neuroma
• Acoustic trauma
• Age-related hearing loss
• Alport syndrome
• Labyrinthitis
• Meniere's disease
• Occupational hearing loss
• Otosclerosis
• Ruptured or perforated eardrum

Review Date: 02/19/2007
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.