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Pure tone audiometry is the essential diagnostic test for evaluating hearing loss. This test measures an individual's ability to hear different frequencies and levels of sound. During pure tone audiometry, the patient listens to a series of tones at varying pitches through headphones, and the results are plotted on an audiogram. This provides critical information about the nature and extent of any hearing loss, whether it is conductive (related to the outer or middle ear) or sensorineural (related to the inner ear or auditory nerve).

The other diagnostic tests listed do not directly evaluate hearing loss. A visual acuity test assesses vision rather than auditory function, while an MRI of the brain is used to identify structural abnormalities and potential causes of symptoms like dizziness or balance issues, but it does not measure hearing capability directly. A sinus X-ray is used to evaluate sinus conditions and does not provide information on auditory function either. Therefore, pure tone audiometry is the key test in accurately diagnosing and characterizing hearing loss.