The assessment of hearing underpins much of the work of NAL. The characteristics of hearing loss must be well understood so that appropriate rehabilitation devices can be designed. Hearing aid fitting procedures are most commonly based on the degree and type of loss. Prevention of hearing loss is most effectively carried out if damage to the cochlear can be detected at the earliest stage of deterioration.
NAL research into hearing assessment is currently concerned with:
- Cost-effective methods for measuring hearing in noisy places
- Detection of hearing loss in infants by electrophysiological methods
- Computer-aided assessment of the speech perception abilities of infants
- Assessment of cochlear damage through otoacoustic emissions
- Assessment of efferent pathways through otoacoustic emissions
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