Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

10 The Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat
• otoacoustic emissions, which measure the
response of the cochlea to sound stimulation
• acoustic immittance measures, which assess the
function of the middle ear:
† tympanometry, to assess eardrum function
† acoustic reflex, to determine whether the
ear responds to loud sounds
† static acoustic impedance, to measure volume
of air within the ear canal
• balance assessment to determine vestibular
function/dysfunction
Understanding Results
Audiologic assessment helps determine the appropriate
therapeutic course for hearing loss. Doctors
often can correct conductive hearing loss through
medical or surgical interventions. Sensorineural
hearing loss requires hearing aids or other solutions
(such as a COCHLEAR IMPLANT) to improve
hearing ability. Mild hearing loss (26 to 30 dB) is
the point at which a person is likely to benefit
from a HEARING AID. At the level of severe hearing
loss (71 to 90 dB), a person is unable to understand
speech without a hearing aid. Because hearing
is essential for development of language and
communication skills, it is especially important to
provide immediate intervention for hearing loss in
children.
See also AGING, OTOLARYNGOLOGIC CHANGES THAT
OCCUR WITH; NOISE EXPOSURE AND HEARING; OTOSCLE-
ROSIS; OTOTOXICITY.