audiometry /ô′dē·om″ətrē/ , the testing of the sensitivity of the sense of hearing. Various audiometric tests determine the lowest intensity of sound at which an individual can perceive auditory stimuli (hearing threshold) and distinguish different speech sounds. Pure tone audiometry assesses the person’s ability to hear frequencies, usually ranging from 125 to 8000 hertz (Hz), and can indicate whether a hearing loss is caused by an outer ear, a middle ear, an inner ear, or an acoustic nerve problem. Speech audiometry tests the ability to understand selected words. Impedance audiometry is an objective method of assessing the resistance or compliance of the conducting mechanism of the middle ear with a probe inserted into the ear canal. −audiometric, adj.
