Why is Pure-Tone Audiometry a Common Hearing Test?

When it comes to testing your hearing, one of the most common forms of test use is known as pure-tone audiometry. There are plenty of reasons why that’s the case, and we’re going to clear up the confusion below. You’ll also find out more about what pure-tone audiometry is and why it’s useful.

If you’re looking to improve your hearing or get help with suspected hearing loss, it all starts with testing your hearing. Read on now to find out all you need to know about pure-tone audiometry.

What is pure-tone audiometry?

Pure-tone audiometry is a way of testing your hearing that involves using, as the name suggests, pure tones. These tones are used to test your hearing at varying frequencies in order to build a picture of the quality of your hearing. It can then be found precisely which frequencies you are and aren’t able to hear. In the end, an audiogram is created to show the extent of a person’s hearing abilities and any potential hearing loss based on the outcomes of the testing.

Accuracy

One of the things that’s most useful about pure-tone audiometry and it’s used in hearing tests is the level of accuracy it provides. There’s a reason why it’s often described as the gold standard of hearing testing. The results that it outputs can be considered reliable and precise, and that’s exactly what you want when trying to understand a person’s hearing capability. Most professionals know and understand the quality of this kind of testing, and it’s why they rely on it more so than any other kind of hearing testing method.

Hearing loss data

This kind of testing is carried out on each ear to test the ability of both separately. This, again, improves accuracy and helps to provide a wealth of data relating to a person’s hearing and any potential hearing loss that might be present. It’s not just about finding signs of hearing loss though; the data provided can also help diagnose people with a specific type of hearing loss and create a picture of its severity. This all helps in the next steps when it comes to addressing the hearing loss and finding treatments or solutions to help the patient.

Fast testing

Another huge benefit associated with pure-tone audiometry is the speed with which the testing can be carried out. It can be done very quickly compared to other kinds of testing, with a test taking no more than half an hour in the vast majority of cases, and often a lot less than that. As a result of this, professionals such as audiologists can progress their patients much faster and can also carry out more tests per week than they would otherwise be able to if they were using slower methods of testing,

Simple and affordable

The testing process is very simple as well. Of course, it still required a professional audiologist to carry out the testing. But the process itself, with the right knowledge and training, doesn’t take too long. The audiologist can focus their time on efforts on interpreting the data provided by the testing and coming to a correct diagnosis that will ultimately help create better long-term outcomes for the patient. And after all, that’s what matters more than anything else. The testing is affordable too, and that’s always important; that’s due to the fact that there’s not much expensive equipment required to carry out the tests.

Other types of hearing tests

There are lots of other hearing tests that can be used in conjunction with pure-tone audiometry to help build an even broader picture of a person’s hearing and any potential hearing loss they might be experiencing. To identify some types of hearing loss, bone conduction tests can be carried out. And speech testing is often used to better understand how a person’s hearing performs in a series of more realistic, real world scenarios.

Book a hearing test with Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids today

If you want to make the most of the benefits that come with pure-tone audiometry hearing tests, you can do that by getting in contact with our team at Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids. We’ll help you book a hearing test and ensure you get the help you need once your results come through. A member of our team will be waiting to take your call, so if you want to book a test, call us today on (605) 610-3466.