Objective audiometry and clinical application

Subjective and objective hearing tests are used for evaluation of hearing impairments. Objective methods include impedance measurement with tympanometry and stapedius reflex measurement, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and auditory evoked potentials (AEP). Combined with statistical analysis, the introduction of auditory steady state responses (ASSR) has enabled objective hearing tests in newborn hearing screening and automated hearing threshold assessment. The type and degree of hearing loss can be determined using the abovementioned methods. Precise interpretation of the test results is helpful to distinguish an auditory synaptopathy/neuropathy from classical sensorineural hearing loss.