Rehabilitation Services: Audiology

What Does an Audiologist Do?

Audiologists conduct a wide variety of tests for patients with hearing disorders to determine the exact nature of the hearing problem and interpret the results of the tests to recommend a course of treatment. They can recommend, fit and dispense hearing devices. Audiologists provide rehabilitative services, education and counseling for patients and their families. Tests performed by an audiologist include:

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) are sounds produced by the normally functioning cochlea. The OAE test is typically used as a preliminary screening test. The procedure involves placing a small probe in the outer ear canal with the patient sitting still and quietly. A computer analyzes the emissions or lack thereof. This test does not require the child’s active participation and usually takes about 15 minutes.
• Middle Ear Testing searches for the presence of fluid or other middle ear dysfunction. The results are presented in a diagram called a tympanogram.
• The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Test consist of sounds that are presented to a child’s ears through earphones. Small electrodes are taped to the child’s head and a computer analyzes responses. The infant or child must be completely still and is often sedated for this test. Testing usually takes less than one hour.
• Behavioral Hearing Tests are used with children who are able to respond to sounds either by turning their head or by playing a game. For young children there are usually two evaluators: an audiologist outside the sound booth monitoring the testing and another person, usually a parent, inside who plays games with the child. Testing takes less than one hour.