Audiology - Services Offered

Our Audiology Department and Hearing Aid Dispensary provide complete diagnostic and rehabilitative services for pediatric through geriatric populations.

Comprehensive hearing evaluations for all ages: This non-invasive test allows us to determine hearing levels and type of hearing loss for a given individual. Patients repeat words and respond to various soft sounds.  Testing is modified for infants and toddlers.

Tympanometry:  This test assesses outer/middle ear status (including middle ear compliance and pressure). It is often used to confirm or rule out middle ear dysfunction.  Patients listen to a humming sound as pressure changes in the ear canal.  Patient response is not required.

Acoustic reflex test:  This test measures a muscle contraction in the middle ear in response to loud sounds.  It provides additional information in diagnosing the type of hearing loss.  Patient response is not required.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test:This test records sound responses produced by hair cells in the inner ear.  Patients listen to different sounds and are not required to respond.  Test results are best if patients can remain still and quiet for a few minutes.

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation:The test measures neural activity as sound travels from the hearing nerve to the lower brainstem and can be used for assessing neurologic function or estimating hearing thresholds.  Patients listen to click-like and/or clicking sounds and are not required to respond.  Testing requires that patients remain still, relaxed, and quiet for at least an hour.  For pediatric populations, a mild sedative is commonly used to facilitate sleeping.  There are pre-test instructions that the patient must follow for sedation.

Videonystagmography (VNG): This test is a test of your balance system. VNG testing is used to determine if a vestibular (inner ear) disease may be causing a balance or dizziness problem, and is one of the only tests available today that can decipher between a unilateral (one ear) and bilateral (both ears) vestibular loss. VNG testing is a series of tests, which are non-invasive.  The patient wears goggles over his/her eyes during testing so that measurements of eye movement can be taken.  There are pre-test instructions (including contraindicated medications) that the patient must follow 48-hours prior to testing.

Newborn hearing screening:
The Audiology Division screens all infants born at GBMC for hearing loss during their birth admission.  Follow-up services, including repeat screening with OAE or ABR technologies and diagnostic testing, are available to infants born at any hospital.

GBMC Cleft Lip and Palate Team:The Audiology Division is a member of the GBMC Cleft Lip and palate Team.  Children with cleft palate are more prone to chronic/recurrent ear infections and can have related hearing loss.  They should be monitored for hearing loss and treated appropriately as hearing loss can contribute to speech-language delays.

Hearing Aid Dispensing: When indicated, hearing aid options are reviewed with patients following their comprehensive hearing test.  The audiologist will review styles of hearing aids, technology options, lifestyle and budget considerations in order to make appropriate hearing aid recommendations for the patient.  All hearing aids are dispensed with a 30-day trial period.

Hearing Aid Repairs/Re-Programming:  Hearing aids can and will have technical problems that require an in-house or factory repair.  The audiologist assesses the hearing aid(s) and if a factory repair is required associated fees will be quoted at that time.  Hearing aid re-programming is done in the office.  If you require reprogramming of a device, which was not purchased in our office, please check with us to make sure we can service your hearing aid.

Real ear measurement:  This test is used for hearing aid verification purposes.  A small probe is inserted into the ear along with the hearing aid.  Measurements are taken to determine if amplification is appropriate for soft, average and loud speech stimuli.  Patient response is not required. 



