What is the name of the hearing assessment procedure that stimulates only the inner ear?

The name of the hearing assessment procedure that stimulates only the inner ear is bone conduction testing. This method works by bypassing the outer and middle ear, allowing sound vibrations to be conducted directly to the cochlea (the inner ear) through the bones of the skull. By using a bone conductor placed on the mastoid bone or on the forehead, clinicians can determine the functionality of the inner ear independently of the outer and middle ear structures.

In contrast, air conduction testing evaluates the entire auditory system, including the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, by delivering sounds through headphones or earphones. Audiometry is a broader term that encompasses various methods of measuring hearing ability, including both bone and air conduction tests. Speech reception threshold testing specifically assesses a person's understanding of speech, which requires a different approach than purely measuring the ability to perceive sound through the inner ear. Thus, bone conduction testing is distinct in its direct assessment of the inner ear's function.