What to Expect During a Hearing Test
One important aspect of overall health that many people overlook is a hearing test. It doesn’t matter if you have noticed changes in your hearing or have ringing in your ears; hearing tests can offer valuable information. Many people might feel apprehensive about their first hearing test, but there is nothing to worry about. Hearing tests are painless and noninvasive. In this blog, we will go through the process so you know what to expect on your first hearing exam.
Before the Test
When you arrive at the office, a hearing health professional will begin by talking with you and gathering your background information. Some questions they might ask include:
- Have you experienced trouble hearing conversations?
- Do you have ringing or buzzing in your ears?
- Have you recently had ear infections, colds, or allergies?
- Are you exposed to loud sounds at work or during hobbies?
These questions help them understand your symptoms. They might also use an otoscope to look inside your ears to determine if there is earwax buildup that might affect the hearing test results.
The Testing Environment
Most of the time, hearing tests will take place in a sound-controlled environment. It is designed to keep distracting sounds from interfering with the test. The hearing health professional will have you wear a pair of headphones or soft earbuds that are connected to testing equipment.
Types of Tests You May Experience
If you are having a complete hearing evaluation will incorporate several tests to evaluate each part of the ear and your hearing ability.
Pure-Tone Audiometry
This is the most common test available. The hearing health professional will play a series of tones at various frequencies. They will ask you to acknowledge that you heard each tone by pressing a button or raising your hand. This test will determine the quietest sound you can hear and helps them to generate a chart of your hearing levels.
Speech Testing
For this test, you will listen to someone speaking through your headphones. You will be asked to repeat them back to determine how well you can understand speech at varying volume levels.
Tympanometry
This test checks to see how well the eardrum moves. Small puffs of air are sent into the ear canal during this test. This can help the hearing health professionals identify the following:
- Fluid in the middle ear
- Eardrum problems
- Blockages
Although it may feel a little unusual, it is not painful.
Bone Conduction Testing
During this test, a small device is placed behind your ear to send sounds directly into the inner ear. This will help the hearing health professional determine if your hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.
During the Test
We want to stress that the entire test is painless. You just need to pay attention to the sounds and respond accordingly. There are no right or wrong answers. Simply answer honestly so the hearing health professionals can get an accurate determination of your hearing health.
After the Test
The hearing health professionals will go over the results and create a treatment plan that will best address your hearing health needs.
These may include:
- Routine monitoring
- Removing earwax
- Treating medical issues
- Using hearing aids
- Protecting your hearing from loud sounds
This is a great time to ask any questions you may have, such as how hearing aids work, what options are available, or how to protect your ears in daily life.
Conclusion
A hearing health test is the only way to accurately determine what kind of hearing loss you have and what can be done about it. The test is an important tool allowing you to remain connected to the world around you. If you have concerns about your hearing health, a test is the first step toward doing something about it.