There are several different types of hearing tests to assess your level of hearing. These may focus on different aspects of the hearing mechanism.

Hearing tests can be divided into two types - screening and diagnostic. As the titles suggest, screening identifies if there is a problem and diagnostic identifies what the problem is. Measuring auditory function can either be done subjectively (the individual gives behavioural responses to auditory stimuli given by the tester, or objectively, where the individual cooperates while the tester measures physiological responses to auditory stimuli.

Pure Tone Audiometry

Middle ear testing

Tympanometry or acoustic reflex measures are procedures to measure the functioning of the middle ear. Tympamometry measures the feedback from sounds put into the ear and reflex measurements focus on the movements of the muscles in the middle ear in response to sound.

Sensori-neural testing

There are several objective measurements for testing sensorineural hearing impairments:

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measures the response along the auditory pathway by taking measurements from electrodes on the head.

Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is relatively new test and is often done in conjunction with ABR test. This test also measures the brains response to sound.

Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions are a measurement of the low-intensity sound energy that is generated by the cochlear when it responds to sound. This is measured by sending sound into the ear and placing a microphone in the ear canal to measure the cochlear's response.

These tests are commonly performed on newborn babies or infants to assess for hearing loss. Along with these tests, children may participate in a behavioural, or play audiometry assessment where the audiologist produces sounds and observes the babies behaviour or response to sounds.

For a more detailed explanation of hearing assessment, information about hearing impairment, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and enhancing the communication skills of children with aided hearing, see our Download Centre.

Our Resource Centre also includes information, books and resources relating to hearing impairment and all aspects of communication development and communication difficulties.