Audiology is the science of hearing measurement.  Our audiologists each have a graduate degree in Audiology and have completed all necessary course work and examinations for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A).  All of our testing is performed in the office for patient convenience.  We use double-walled sound-proof booths (the standard for scientific research) with state-of-the-art audiometers.

Patients with complaints of hearing loss, ringing sound in the ear (tinnitus), vertigo, dizziness, or facial weakness will have audiometric testing.  A complete audiogram consists of these parts:

• Pure tone Audiometry

• Speech Audiometry

• Middle ear Immittance (Tympanometry) 

• Acoustic reflex testing

These tests require some degree of patient cooperation.  Pure tone Audiometry requires the patient to press a button in response to a sound.  Speech Audiometry requires the patient to repeat a spoken word.  Usually reliable test results can be obtained for children. For our pre-school patients, we perform visual reinforced Audiometry or play Audiometry.

For newborns and toddlers, we can perform other types of hearing tests that do not require a response from them.  These tests include Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR).

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ELECTRONYSTAGMOGRAPHY (ENG)

The purpose of the ENG is to determine which part or parts of your balance system may be the cause of dizziness.  Small electrodes are taped around the eyes.  While lying on a bed, the patient is asked to follow several different light movements, and to move into different body positions.  The balance system of the inner ear is also stimulated by putting water into the ears, which is a little above and below body temperature; and the response of each ear to this stimulation is measured.

The ENG takes about an hour and a half.  Most people experience some dizziness during portions of the test.  This dizziness is usually gone by the time the test is completed.  An audiologist will interpret the results of the test, and give a report to the physician shortly after the test is finished.

Please follow this link to find ENG instructions

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VESTIBULAR EXERCISE EVALUATION

The vestibular exercise evaluation looks at how movement makes you dizzy.  The patient is asked to make certain head and body movements that may cause dizziness.  The type of dizziness that is felt during these movements and the severity of the dizziness are recorded.  The patient is then given a program of exercises chosen for that person to do at home.  The patient may also be instructed on neck or relaxation exercises if appropriate.  The program of exercises, when done in a systematic manner, has the effect of reducing or eliminating dizziness caused by movement.  The evalution lasts from half an hour to an hour.  This is usually a one-time evaluation, without additional appointments.

Please look at our page on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo to find out more about canalith repositioning.

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AUDITORY BRAINSTEM RESPONSE (ABR)

The ABR tests the function and integrity of the auditory (hearing) nerve from the inner ear to the brainstem.  This will help your physician pinpoint the location of your problem.  For the test, small metal disc electrodes are placed on the forehead and ears, and insert earphones are placed in the ears.  The patient is in a comfortable reclining chair with the room darkened.

Through the insert earphones, clicking sounds are heard first in one ear, then the other.  The electrodes pick up the electrical response of the auditory nerve and brainstem to the clicks, and this response will be seen on a computer screen by the audiologist doing the test.  The audiologist will then interpret the response and compare it to a range of normal responses.  The entire procedure is painless, and takes about one hour.  The results are available to the physician shortly after the test is completed.

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ELECTROCOCHLEOGRAPHY (ECoG)

ECoG is a test that examines the electrical potentials of the inner ear.  This can determine if there is excess fluid pressure that can cause problems with hearing and dizziness.

The physician places electrodes in the ears, and other disc electrodes are taped to the forehead.  The patient is in a comfortable reclining chair with the room darkened.  Through insert earphones, clicks and short tones are heard in one ear at a time.  The electrodes pick up the electrical response of the inner ear to these sounds, and this response is displayed on a computer screen.  The audiologist conducting the test will then interpret the response.  The test takes about one hour and results are available to the physician shortly after the test is finished.

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ELECTRONEURONOGRAPHY (ENoG)

ENoG is a test that examines the integrity of the facial nerves in cases of weakness of one side of the face.  Disc electrodes are taped by the nose and mouth.  The facial nerve is stimulated near the ear with a brief electrical pulse, which feels like a tapping sensation.  The disc electrodes will pick up electrical activity from the muscles of the face, which occurs as a result of this stimulation.  This response is displayed on a computer screen.  The audiologist conducting the test will interpret the responses, comparing the two sides of the face.  The test takes about one hour, and results are available to the physician shortly after the test is completed.