Current audiological diagnostics

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Current audiological diagnostics involve numerous tests to address diverse auditory system malfunctions across all ages.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for determining appropriate medical or rehabilitative interventions for hearing loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the current methods used in audiological functional diagnostics.
• To systematically present subjective and objective audiological tests for evaluating the auditory system.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews subjective methods based on psychoacoustic exploration.
• Objective methods utilizing physical measurements are also detailed.
• Specific tests discussed include pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory evoked potentials.

Main Results:

• The reviewed audiological tests cover a wide spectrum of clinically relevant functional deficits of the auditory system.
• The existing method inventory is largely comprehensive, with only a few identified gaps.

Conclusions:

• The current range of audiological diagnostic tools is extensive and essential for understanding hearing loss.
• These methods provide critical information for treatment planning, hearing aid fitting, and disability assessment.