Pure-tone audiometry
Pure-tone testing is a standard test to measure the hearing range in each ear by finding the quietest sound the ear can detect at different pitches and volume. Pure-tone audiometry is sometimes also called air conduction testing since the sounds go through the outer and middle ear. The testing process generally looks something like this:
- The patient is seated in a quiet space and fitted with earphones or insert phones.
- The audiologist plays a series of sounds or tones over the earphones.
- Every time a sound is heard, the patient indicates it by pressing a button, raising a hand, or pointing to the ear where the sound is heard.
- The audiologist records the results in an audiogram.