SPECIALIST DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Electrophysiological tests
Electrophysiological testing involves measuring the neural activity of the auditory pathway from the surface of the skin, via electrodes. At Lindfield Audiology, we provide 3 types of electrophysiological tests of hearing:
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
The ABR is one of the standard tests for assessing the hearing of a person who cannot perform any behavioural hearing tests (e.g. newborns). The ABR can also be used to detect benign tumours along the auditory pathway. The MRI is the gold standard for this investigation but for patients who are claustrophobic or otherwise unable to have an MRI, the ABR is the next best option.
Electrocochleography (ECochG)
EcochG is a specialised test that gains detailed information about the electrical activity within the cochlea or inner ear. This test is mainly used in the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease.
Cortical Evoked Response Audiometry (CERA)
CERA is used as an objective measure of hearing and is sometimes used to objectively measure hearing levels for WorkCover claims.