Hearing Tests

Acoustic Reflex Test, Audiometry, Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potential (ABEP) Test, Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Test, Pure Tone Audiometry, Rinne Test, Schwabach Test, Tuning Fork Test, Weber Test, Whispered Speech Test

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Being unable to cooperate, follow directions, and understand speech well enough to respond during most tests. It may be difficult to conduct hearing tests on young children or on people who have physical or mental disabilities.
• Equipment problems, such as cracked or poorly fitting headphones or an uncalibrated audiometer, or background noise.
• Difficulty speaking or understanding the language of the tester.
• A recent cold or ear infection.
• Being around loud noises within 16 hours before the test.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: April 22, 2009
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
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