The testing of a person's ability to hear various sound frequencies is known as audiometry. The test is performed using electronic equipment called an audiometer and is usually administered by an audiologist, a trained technician.

Audiometry is used to identify and diagnose hearing loss. The equipment is used in health screening programs, for example in grade schools, to detect hearing problems in children. It is also used in the doctor's office or hospital audiology department to diagnose hearing problems in children, adults, and the elderly. With correct diagnosis of a person's specific pattern of hearing impairment, the right type of therapy can be prescribed. It might include hearing aids, corrective surgery, or speech therapy.

Testing with audiometry equipment is simple and painless. The equipment emits sounds or tones, like musical notes, at various frequencies, or pitches, and at differing volumes or levels of loudness. Testing is...