Services at Bridgewater Balance and Hearing

Hearing & Balance Evaluations

At Bridgewater, we’re dedicated to the hearing healthcare of our patients. The first step on the road to better hearing is a proper diagnosis of the problem. Not all diagnostic processes and equipment are the same. We’re proud to have invested in the best equipment and a team of professionals who are highly trained and continually provide the best in complete hearing healthcare. We are confident we can find the issue that is affecting your hearing and offer real life solutions.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is conducted to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum (tympanic membrane). We use tympanometry to determine the health of the middle ear system.

In addition to evaluating the eardrum for proper movement and evaluating the pressure in the middle ear system, we are able to measure acoustic reflexes. Two small muscles—the tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle—contract in response to loud sounds and we measure this response. The response can be elicited by stimulating one ear and measuring the response in the opposite ear. The presence or absence of the response can be used diagnostically to help us determine the nature of hearing loss.

Central Auditory Processing Evaluations

Auditory processing is a term used to describe what happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you. We hear when energy that we recognize as sound travels through the ear and is changed into electrical information that can be interpreted by the brain. The “disorder” part of auditory processing disorder means something is adversely affecting the processing or interpretation of the information.

At Bridgewater Speech & Hearing, we utilize a comprehensive battery of tests to determine if there is an auditory processing disorder and what type of disorder it is. First, we ensure the physiological basis of the auditory system is functioning normally, and if so, test to see if an auditory processing disorder is present and define its type. Our staff is able to provide comprehensive management strategies and therapy to help “train” or “re-train” the brain to process sound in the most effective way.

What are the symptoms of auditory processing difficulty?

• Trouble paying attention to and remembering information that is presented orally
• Difficulty carrying out multi-step directions
• Poor listening skills
• Needing additional time to process information
• Low academic performance
• Often exhibiting behavior problems
• Poor reading, writing, and spelling skills
• Difficulty processing speech in the presence of background noise

Bridgewater Speech & Hearing provides auditory processing evaluations for children, adults, and seniors. New research is emerging as to early onset dementia and difficulties in the area of auditory processing. If you have private insurance, we will bill your insurance company for the evaluation. Please call us at 769-0283 to discuss your needs with us.

Videonystagmography

Otoacoustic Emission Testing

Auditory Brainstem Response