Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations
A comprehensive hearing evaluation at Riverside Hearing and Balance takes about 1 hour and includes:
-
Otoscopy (~2 minutes)
An otoscopy involves visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum with a light. -
Tympanograms (~2 minutes)
A small amount of pressure is introduced into each ear to test if the eardrums are moving as they should be. This test can indicate outer and middle ear problems such as fluid behind the eardrums, ear infections, perforated eardrums and more. -
Acoustic Reflex Testing (~5 minutes)
Loud sounds are played into each ear to see if the muscles in the ear contract appropriately to loud sounds. Abnormal or absent acoustic reflexes can suggest a variety of causes of hearing loss when interpreted along with other test results. -
Traditional Hearing Test (~15 - 30 minutes)
Hearing is tested through air conduction (with earphones or speakers), and through bone conduction (using a bone vibrator placed behind the ear). Technique varies with age of the patient:6 months to 2.5 years old
Noises are presented to the child through earphones or speakers and the audiologist watches for head movements and reactions to the noises. Appropriate head turns to sounds are positively reinforced using light-up toys.2.5 years to 5 years old
Child plays the "listening game" where they hold up a puzzle piece or small object to their face and wait for the sound. They are taught to place the small object down into a bucket or onto a puzzle board as soon as they hear the sound.6 years to 99+
Patients will participate in standard hearing test, pushing a button for every beep they hear.
Speech Testing (~ 10 minutes)
Using various speech stimuli and methods, assesses the listener’s abily to understand speech.Otoacoustic Emissions / OAEs (~2 - 3 minutes)
OAEs can be used to assess the function of the hair cells in the cochlea for any person whose eardrums are moving normally. The test takes about 2 - 3 minutes of silence along with little movement, for each ear. OAEs can suggest the absence or presence of sensorineural hearing loss.
Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR)
What is the ABR test?
- Test uses sensors, or electrodes, and earphones in the ears. The patient sleeps during the test, while data is recorded from the sensors on their head and behind their ears in response to clicking noises that are played into their ears.
Uses of the ABR test:
- Useful in testing difficult-to-test populations.
- Used to test babies who do not pass their Newborn Hearing Screening in the hospital. (Baby must be sleeping- takes 1-2 hours usually.)
- Used to test adults to rule-out certain causes for hearing loss and other symptoms.
A comprehensive hearing evaluation at Riverside Hearing and Balance takes approximately one hour. To request an appointment for a Hearing Evaluation please contact Riverside Hearing and Balance.
Riverside ENT / Hearing and Balance
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
300 Riverside Drive, Suite 2100
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Phone: (815) 932-2541
