Audiology - Pearl Hearing and Speech Solutions

AUDIOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Comprehensive Hearing Evaluations for All Ages

At Pearl Hearing & Speech Services, we provide professional hearing assessments designed to evaluate, protect, and enhance hearing health for people of all ages. Our audiologists use a range of specialized tests to assess the outer, middle, and inner ear, accurately identifying the type and cause of hearing loss and recommending the most effective treatment options for infants, children, and adults.

Tests for adults

Our adult hearing tests are designed to give a clear, comprehensive picture of hearing ability and ear health.

Tympanometry

Assesses how well your eardrum and middle ear are functioning. It checks the movement of the eardrum and measures middle ear pressure to detect fluid buildup, eardrum perforation, or other conditions that may affect hearing.

Acoustic Reflex Testing

Evaluates the reflexive response of the stapedius muscle in the middle ear. This test helps determine whether sound is being properly transmitted through the auditory pathway.

Otoacoustic Emission (OAE)

Measures the response of the tiny hair cells inside your inner ear (cochlea). A small probe is placed in your ear canal to deliver gentle tones and record the echo-like sounds produced by healthy hair cells — helping identify issues with the inner ear.

Pure Tone Audiometry

Determines the softest sounds you can hear across different frequencies. This test helps identify the type and degree of hearing loss and provides a clear picture of your hearing thresholds.

Word Recognition Testing

Assesses your ability to hear and understand speech at comfortable volume levels. It helps determine how clearly you can recognize words, not just how well you can detect sound.

Speech-in-Noise Testing

Simulates real-life listening environments by measuring how well you understand speech with background noise. This test provides valuable insights for diagnosing hidden hearing difficulties that often affect social or work interactions.

Tests for Children

Our pediatric audiology services use fun, interactive, and child-friendly methods to make hearing assessments comfortable and accurate for little ones.

Tympanometry

Evaluates middle ear function and checks whether the eardrum moves normally. This helps identify common childhood ear issues like fluid buildup or infections.

Acoustic Reflex Testing

Determines if the small middle-ear muscle reacts properly to sounds. This gives important clues about how well sound signals are traveling through your child’s auditory system.

Otoacoustic Emission (OAE)

Checks the function of the outer hair cells in the inner ear using a tiny probe that plays soft tones. It’s a quick and gentle test, ideal for infants and young children who cannot respond verbally.

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)

Used for babies and toddlers (around 6 months to 3 years). The child is trained to turn their head toward a sound, and when they respond correctly, they are rewarded with a visual cue — making the test engaging and accurate.

Conventional Audiometry

Suitable for children aged 5 and above. The child is asked to raise their hand or respond verbally whenever they hear a tone. This test measures hearing across different frequencies.

Word Recognition Testing

Assesses how well a child can repeat or point to familiar words at a comfortable loudness level. It helps identify how clearly they hear and understand speech.

Ototoxic Audiological Monitoring

Some medications, particularly certain chemotherapy drugs, can affect the ear and lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance problems. At Pearl Hearing & Speech Services, we provide specialized ototoxic monitoring to detect early signs of hearing damage, allowing for timely intervention or treatment adjustments. When treatment cannot be modified, our audiologists offer personalized care and solutions such as hearing aids, assistive listening devices, or cochlear implants. Each evaluation includes comprehensive hearing tests, high-frequency audiometry, and otoacoustic emission testing to ensure accurate, patient-centered care.

Newborn Hearing Screening Follow-up Testing

At Pearl Hearing & Speech Services, we support early hearing detection through comprehensive newborn hearing screening and follow-up testing. If your baby did not pass the initial hospital screening in one or both ears, further outpatient testing is recommended — often using an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test.

What is an ABR?
The ABR test measures how your baby’s hearing nerve responds to sounds. Gentle sounds are played through small earphones while soft electrodes placed on your baby’s head record the nerve’s response. The test is safe, comfortable, and typically takes about 60–90 minutes while your baby sleeps.

How can you prepare for an ABR test?