[Functional examinations of the ear and auditory pathway]

Abstract

Hearing is usually examined by means of pure tone and speech audiometry. Alternative examinations are required when the level of hearing defect needs to be more closely defined or hearing is being measured from a patient who is unable to give reliable feedback on a test sound. Neonatal hearing screening involves measuring of otoacoustic emissions generated in the cochlea of the inner ear or brain stem responses formed within the auditory pathway. Immittance measurements are used to evaluate the function of the middle ear. Most commonly used methods include tympanometry probing the mobility of the tympanic membrane and middle ear pressure, and acoustic reflex assessing the functionality of the ossicular chain.