Audiometry is the electronic testing of hearing ability. Your child will sit in a special room wearing earphones and be asked to respond when he/she hears a noise through the earphones. These tests can measure their hearing levels as well as other aspects of hearing such as the ability to recognise speech against background noise. For younger children more specialised hearing tests are available.

Tympanometry uses sound and air pressure to check middle ear function. A small, soft probe is placed in the ear for a few seconds and a computer measures the ear's response to sounds and pressure emitted through the probe. This test is often carried out in young children to assess for glue ear.