person who specializes in the study of hearing impairments
auditory acuity testing
physical assessment of hearing; useful in differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
tuning fork
two-pronged, fork-like instrument that vibrates when struck; used to test for hearing, especially bone conduction
brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
electrodiagnostic testing using computerized equipment to measure involuntary responses to sound within the auditory nervous system - commonly used to assess hearing in newborns
otoscopy
use of an otoscope to examine the external auditory meatus (canal) and tympanic membrane
pneumatic otoscopy
otoscopic observation of the tympanic membrane as air is released into the external auditory meatus (canal); immobility indicates the presence of middle ear effusion (fluid buildup) as occurs as a result of otitis media
tympanometry
measurement of the compliance and mobility of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the middle ear by monitoring the response after exposure to external airflow pressures