Speech Therapy

AUDIOMETRY

This is an evaluation that assesses a person's ability to perceive sounds at different pitches and intensities. During this test, the patient is fitted with headphones that emit pure tones ranging from very high-pitched to very low-pitched sounds. The patient must raise his or her head each time he or she hears a sound, which helps the specialist determine the hearing threshold, that is, the minimum sound level the person can detect. This test is performed in a quiet, controlled environment, usually within a soundproof booth.

The main objective of audiometry is to identify whether there is hearing loss and, if so, to determine its type and severity. It is an essential tool in medical practice, as it allows for distinguishing whether the hearing loss is conductive (when the problem occurs in the outer or middle ear) or sensorineural (when it affects the inner ear or auditory nerve). The results are displayed in a graph called an audiogram, which helps professionals understand the patient's hearing status and determine appropriate treatment, such as the use of hearing aids or specific medical treatments.

VOICE EVALUATION

This is a clinical evaluation performed by a speech-language pathologist to identify possible communication, speech, and voice disorders. This examination is personalized and varies depending on the patient's age, reason for consultation, and needs. It generally begins with an interview to determine speech development, vocal and social medical history, followed by a series of questions and/or specific tests that assess communicative and functional voice skills.