PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY TEST (PTA)

Hearing Aid Solutions a leading hearing aid centre and hearing evaluation testing centre, we are committed to helping you rediscover the joy of hearing. As a trusted provider of hearing tests and state of the art hearing aid solutions, our mission is to enhance your hearing health and improve your quality of life.

A hearing test is a medical assessment used to evaluate an individual’s ability to hear sounds at various frequencies and intensities. Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) is a diagnostic hearing test designed to measure an individual’s hearing sensitivity across a range of frequencies and intensities. It is the most common method used to evaluate hearing loss and provides a detailed understanding of auditory function. This test helps identify the softest sound, or threshold, that a person can detect at specific frequencies, typically ranging from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz.

The procedure involves the use of calibrated equipment such as headphones or ear inserts for air conduction testing and a bone conduction oscillator to assess the inner ear and auditory nerve function directly. During the test, pure tones of varying frequencies and volumes are presented to each ear separately. The individual responds, usually by pressing a button or raising their hand, whenever they hear a tone. The results are plotted on an audiogram, a graphical representation showing the hearing thresholds for each ear.

Pure tone audiometry is essential in determining the degree of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe, or profound) and its type, which could be conductive (issues in the outer or middle ear), sensorineural (problems in the inner ear or auditory nerve), or mixed (a combination of both). This information guides the audiologist in recommending appropriate interventions, such as hearing aids, medical treatment, or further diagnostic tests. It is a reliable, non-invasive test suitable for both adults and children, although younger children may require modified techniques.