After a brain injury, changes in hearing, sound processing, balance, and sensitivity to noise are common but often overlooked symptoms. These auditory complications can result from damage to the auditory nerve, inner ear structures, or the brain regions responsible for processing sound. Because symptoms may not always be immediately obvious, specialized auditory testing is essential to identify hidden or delayed effects.
Audiologists and neurologists may use a range of clinical tools to evaluate both hearing function and central auditory processing, including pure-tone audiometry, auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), central auditory processing tests, and vestibular evaluations. These assessments help differentiate between peripheral hearing loss (in the ear) and central auditory dysfunction (in the brain), both of which can occur after TBI.
Early detection of auditory deficits is crucial for effective treatment, rehabilitation planning, and overall quality of life. Click on any of the tests listed below to learn more about what they measure and how they are used in brain injury care.
- Complete Audiogram and Tympanogram
- Pure-Tone Audiometry
- Otoscopy
- Tuning Fork Tests (Rinne and Weber)
- Speech-In-Noise and Degraded Speech Testing
- Tympanometry & Acoustic Reflex Testing
- Vestibular and Balance Assessments
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