What to Expect During Your Hearing Test

Hearing is an essential sense that connects us to the world around us, allowing us to communicate, enjoy music, and stay safe. However, many people take their hearing for granted until they experience difficulties. That's where audiologists step in. These professionals specialize in assessing and treating hearing disorders, helping individuals regain or maintain their auditory health. If you've ever wondered what happens during a general hearing test with an audiologist, you're in the right place. Let's dive into the basics.

Appointment Setup

Before your hearing test, you'll typically schedule an appointment with our audiologist. During this initial interaction, our audiologist may ask you questions about your medical history, any concerns you have regarding your hearing, and any exposure to loud noises or ototoxic medications. This information helps us tailor the test to your specific needs.

Examination Room Setup

Once you arrive for your appointment, you'll be escorted to a quiet examination room designed to minimize external noise interference. The audiologist will ensure that you're comfortable before beginning the test.

Preliminary Assessment

Before diving into the main test, our audiologist may conduct a preliminary assessment of your ears and overall hearing health. This might involve inspecting your ears using an otoscope to check for earwax buildup, blockages, or any visible abnormalities.

Pure Tone Audiometry

The core component of a general hearing test is pure tone audiometry. During this test, you'll wear headphones connected to an audiometer, a machine that produces sounds at various frequencies and volumes. You'll be asked to indicate when you hear different tones by pressing a button or raising your hand.

Speech Audiometry

In addition to pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry evaluates your ability to hear and understand spoken words. You'll listen to recorded speech through headphones and repeat back the words or sentences you hear. This helps assess your speech discrimination ability.

Bone Conduction Testing

Bone conduction testing may be conducted if there are concerns about the conductive component of your hearing loss. This test involves placing a small device behind your ear or on your forehead that sends vibrations directly to your inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry assesses the health and function of your middle ear. A soft probe is inserted into your ear canal, and air pressure is varied to measure how well your eardrum and middle ear bones move. This test can detect conditions such as fluid buildup or eardrum perforation.

Results

After completing the tests, our audiologist will discuss the results with you. They'll explain your hearing thresholds, any areas of concern, and potential treatment options if necessary. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and seek clarification on any aspect of your hearing health.

A general hearing test with our audiologist is a comprehensive assessment of your auditory function, encompassing various tests to evaluate different aspects of hearing. By undergoing regular hearing tests, you can detect any changes in your hearing early and take proactive steps to maintain optimal auditory health. If you have concerns about your hearing, don't hesitate to schedule an appointment with our audiologist Hollie—it's the first step towards better hearing and improved quality of life.