General Audiology

Penn Audiology provides diagnosis and treatment for people with hearing loss. Hearing loss treatment allows patients to communicate and stay connected to the world around them.

The Penn Audiology program ranked as best in the Philadelphia region and one of the finest in the country. Our Audiology specialty services and treatment program includes The Penn Balance and Dizziness Center.

Hearing Loss Diagnosis

The human ear is highly complex in design and function. To identify the type and degree of hearing loss and establish an appropriate plan for each patient, we employ state-of-the-art equipment and test techniques.

• Pure Tone and Speech Audiometry
  The Pure Tone and Speech Audiometry assessment measures auditory acuity at varying pitches, as well as the patient's ability to hear and discriminate speech. The patient is seated in a large, sound-treated room. Sounds are delivered to the patient's ears through small ear plugs or through a vibrating device placed behind the ear. The patient is asked to respond when hearing the sound.
• Acoustic Immittance, Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflex Studies
  This evaluation provides the audiologist with information regarding the mechanical integrity of the ear. A small probe is placed in the patient's ear. Pressure changes may be felt and sounds may be heard by the patient during this procedure. The mechanical components being evaluated consist of the ear drum, three small bones in the middle ear, and various ear muscles.
• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)
  OAE testing evaluates the functioning of the outer hair cells located in the inner ear. A tiny microphone placed in the ear measures acoustic signals generated by these hair cells in response to auditory stimulation. This can provide the audiologist with objective information regarding the integrity of these hair cells used for hearing. It can also be useful in monitoring patients who are taking special antibiotics or chemotherapy medications, which can sometimes affect hearing.
• Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR)
  ABR testing evaluates the integrity of the nerve that runs from the inner ear to the brain. Electrodes are placed on the patient's scalp while they sit quietly listening clicking sounds.

Learn more about hearing loss.