Audiometry is a way to check the status of sound reception, measure the level of hearing sensitivity, and evaluate whether hearing is damaged or not.
Audiometric results help determine conditions including conductive hearing loss, receptive hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. This method is used to screen and early detect hearing loss or impairment, and check ear functions. From the results of the audiogram and the disease condition, the doctor has appropriate care and treatment methods to improve the patient’s hearing ability and quality of life.
People 18 years of age and older, with no signs of hearing loss and no risk factors (personal or family history of hearing diseases) are recommended to have their hearing tested every 3-5 years. until age 40. For people 40-59 years old, the frequency of audiometry should be more frequent, every 1-3 years. After age 60, hearing loss is more common, so testing should be done once a year.
Patients with tinnitus, difficulty communicating due to unclear hearing, injuries, ear infections, taking medications that affect the ears… should have their hearing tested immediately, without waiting for a routine check-up. People who work in noisy environments such as factories, construction sites, airports… should be tested once a year to detect and prevent early hearing loss.
Doctor Ngoc Hung examines a patient’s hearing. Illustration photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
If you regularly wear headphones, especially when listening at high volume or for long periods of time, you should have a hearing test at least once a year to monitor and detect abnormalities early, if any. In addition, you should limit the time you wear headphones to less than 60 minutes continuously, and reduce the volume below 60% to protect your ears from long-term damage. If you have recurrent otitis media, you need to focus on completely treating the inflammation. After treatment, you should have your hearing measured immediately and maintain follow-up once a year.
Audiometry is performed using many different methods. Subjective audiometric tests such as monotone audiogram, tympanogram, stapedial reflex test, cochlear sound test (OAE), auditory brainstem electrogram (ABR). At Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City and Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, patients are examined using the Resonance system (Italy). The audiometry process is usually quick, painless and requires no preparation before the procedure.