Leik Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) Practice Test

Audiometry is the gold standard test used to assess hearing loss in adults. It involves a systematic evaluation of a person's hearing ability, typically conducted in a soundproof environment. During the test, various sounds, or tones, are presented at different frequencies and intensities, allowing the audiologist to determine the quietest sounds that the patient can hear at different pitches. This comprehensive assessment helps identify the type, level, and configuration of hearing loss, whether conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.

Other testing methods such as otoscopic examination and tympanometry serve specific purposes in evaluating the ear's physical health and middle ear function, respectively. The Rinne test, while helpful in differentiating between types of hearing loss, is less comprehensive than audiometry and is usually performed as part of a broader auditory assessment. Hence, audiometry remains the most definitive method for discovering hearing loss in adults.