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Key hearing assessment tests: Audiometry, Tympanometry and BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry)

ENT is one of the key areas of medical science. In this field, hearing plays a vital role. It enables people to connect, communicate and experience the world around them. So when hearing problems arise—whether in children, adults or the elderly— accurate diagnosis and treatment is crucial. That’s where specialised hearing tests such as Audiometry, Tympanometry, and BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) come in. Each of these tests evaluates different parts of the hearing system, helping ENT specialists pinpoint the cause and extent of hearing loss. At Neotia Mediplus, Rawdon Street we have recently introduced a range of ENT services, including the three already mentioned. So, let’s understand what these tests are and what they do:

Audiometry – measuring hearing ability

Audiometry is one of the most common and widely used tests to assess hearing levels. It measures how well a person can hear sounds at different pitches (frequencies) and volumes (intensities). The process is quite simple. During a pure-tone audiometry test, the patient wears headphones and responds to various tones played at different frequencies. The results are plotted on an audiogram, which reveals the softest sounds the person can hear across the frequency range.

There are two types of audiometry:

• Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA): This evaluates air and bone conduction to differentiate between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
• Speech Audiometry: This assesses how well a person can detect and understand spoken words.

Audiometry is ideal for both adults and older children who can cooperate during testing. It helps diagnose conditions like age-related hearing loss, noise-induced damage, ear infections or inner ear disorders.

Tympanometry – assessing Middle Ear function

The second test is Tympanometry which assesses how well the middle ear is functioning. It measures the movement of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) in response to air pressure changes. The test is quick, painless and especially useful for identifying problems behind the eardrum.

Abnormal tympanometry results may indicate:

• Fluid in the middle ear (otitis media)
• Eardrum perforation
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Ossicular chain abnormalities

Tympanometry is extremely useful and effective for children, as middle ear infections are common and can lead to temporary hearing loss. Detecting and treating these issues early helps prevent long-term complications and supports normal speech development.

BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) – evaluating nerve pathways

The third test BERA is also known as ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response). This procedure is an advanced and objective test that evaluates the function of the auditory nerve and brainstem pathways involved in hearing. Small electrodes are placed on the scalp to record electrical responses generated by the brain when sounds are played through earphones.

This test is especially useful for:

• Newborns and infants who cannot respond to sounds voluntarily
• Patients with suspected nerve-related hearing loss
• Evaluating delayed speech or suspected neurological hearing issues

BERA provides accurate, non-invasive information about how sound signals travel from the ear to the brain, making it a crucial diagnostic tool in paediatric and neurological audiology.

Tests that ensure quality of life

Audiometry, Tympanometry and BERA together form a comprehensive set of diagnostic tests that assess the ear’s outer, middle, and inner functions, as well as the neural pathways of hearing. These tests are safe, painless, and essential for early detection of hearing loss. With timely diagnosis individuals and especially children can achieve better hearing outcomes and improved quality of life.