Hearing Loss - Diagnosis

Hearing loss can often be diagnosed with a physical examination. A doctor may look directly into a patient's ears to see if any blockage is present, such as an infection or tumor. Another test involves the use of a tuning fork. A tuning fork is a metallic instrument that vibrates when struck. The tuning fork is placed next to the ear or placed against the patient's head. The vibrations it produces result in a musical tone. The patient's responses can help the doctor determine the patient's range of hearing.

Another important tool in the diagnosis of hearing problems is the audiometer (pronounced aw-dee-AH-meh-tur). An audiometer is a device that produces very pure tones of differing pitch and volume (loudness). A patient is provided with earphones connected to the audiometer. He or she is then asked to indicate the level at which various sounds can be heard. The data provided by this test may diagnose the type and severity of a patient's hearing loss. Many other tests are available to diagnose hearing disorders within the inner ear, the auditory nerve, and the brain itself.