Diagnostic Tests for Deafness
Diagnostic Test list for Deafness:
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Deafness
includes:
- Physical examination
- In a child, note any malformation of the skull, ears or face that may indicate a congenital syndrome associated with deafness
- Pain with moving ear lobe suggests otitis externa
- Examine in the ear with otoscope for any abnormalities such as excessive ear wax, foreign body, otitis media (middle ear infection), otitis externa (outer ear infection), cholesteatoma (a tumor in the middle ear) or ruptured ear drum
- Ear discharge swab for microscopy and culture
- Rinne hearing test with a tuning fork - will help determine if deafness is due to nerve problem or conduction (middle ear) problem.
- Weber hearing test with a tuning fork - will help determine which ear is affected by deafness and further assist in determining if deafness is due to a nerve problem or conduction (middle ear) problem.
- Audiometry and caloric testing - should be done in almost all cases in which the ear examination is normal. Distinguishes sensorineural from conductive deafness.
- Tympanometry - can assist in diagnosing mild cases of serous otitis media (glue ear) which is the commonest cause of hearing loss in children.
- Radiological investigations
- X-Rays of the mastoids, petrous temporal bones and internal auditory canal may show signs of mastoiditis, fractures of the petrous temporal bone
- MRI of brain and auditory canals if suspect acoustic neuroma
- Cerebral angiography if suspect basilar artery insufficiency
- MRI angiography is an excellent noninvasive alternative for diagnosing vertebral-basilar artery disease
- MRI brain may help to diagnose multiple sclerosis
- Electrophysiological tests such as visual-evoked response (VER) - may be required to help diagnose Multiple sclerosis.
- Spinal tap for fluid analysis - may be required to help diagnose multiple sclerosis.
- Simple tests of response to noises
- Clapping hands behind the child - to see if they can respond to it when they cannot see it.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) - testing baby hearing.
- Auditory brain stem response (ABR) - testing baby hearing.
- Baby hearing checklist
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Deafness causes:
- Ear Infections: Home Testing:
- Home Andropause Tests
- Prostate Health: Home Testing:
- Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
» Next page: Glossary
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