What to Expect at a Hearing Test
Statistics indicate that most people are waiting seven years on average before seeking care for their hearing loss. Like many other medical conditions, early intervention means a much higher chance of a successful outcome when it comes to hearing loss, and any treatment of hearing loss starts with a hearing test.
.jpeg)
Benefits of Hearing Tests
Hearing tests are quick and painless, and will provide us with valuable insight into your overall hearing condition and the best treatment options. Some would benefit from a test annually. You might want to have a yearly hearing evaluation if you're:
- Over the age of 55
- Have a family history of hearing loss
- Tend to have more frequent ringing
- Working in a noisy environment
If you've noticed some changes in your hearing, there's no reason to delay considering scheduling a hearing test. Here's an idea of what to expect during your appointment with us:
1. A Consultation With a Hearing Professional
We will take a look at your health history and ask questions that will help you learn more about your hearing problems.
You will be asked about your symptoms, your history of exposure to noise, the history of hearing loss in your family, and the different types of conditions where you have hearing trouble. Feel free to write down notes ahead of time, so you're comfortable and prepared for this discussion.
.jpeg)
2. The Hearing Tests
Now it is time to test your hearing. Hearing tests are usually performed in a small, quiet room built to keep out external noises that may affect your test scores. You will put on headphones that have wires hanging from it, linked to an instrument called an audiometer.
There are two main tests: a pure-tone test and a speech recognition test. Additional tests might be taken, depending on what we think you'll benefit from.
Pure-Tone Test:
With the pure-tone test, you'll hear sounds in both ears at different frequencies and volumes. If you hear the sound, then press a button.
Speech Recognition Test:
The speech recognition test involves hearing short snippets of speech and repeating what was said. Such assessments are intended to show how well you perform in the most critical hearing task of all: understanding speech.
3. A Look at Your Test Results
Your results will be registered on an audiogram, which is a visual illustration of your hearing skills. This will identify the softest sound you can detect and identify the frequencies that you have trouble detecting. It also shows your speech recognition capabilities, measured in a percentage.
If the test shows a hearing loss is present, the level of hearing loss will be displayed using a scale:
Mild Hearing Loss:
If you have mild hearing loss, sounds between 26 and 40dB can not be detected. This means that you have some problems hearing other people in noisy environments.
Moderate Hearing Loss:
You have moderate hearing loss if no sounds up to 69dB are heard. This level of hearing loss makes regular conversations challenging to understand.
Profound Hearing Loss:
Those who have a profound hearing loss can't hear anything less than 95db. This means they can not hear anything quieter than the noise level of a Boeing 737.
.jpeg)
