Hearing loss is challenging, if not impossible, to diagnose by yourself. As an example, you can’t really assess your level of hearing by merely putting your ear near a speaker. So getting a hearing test will be crucial in figuring out what’s going on with your hearing.
Now, before you start sweating or anxiously fidgeting, it’s significant to mention that most hearing tests are very easy and involve nothing more challenging than putting on a pair of fancy headphones.
Okay, tests aren’t everyone’s favorite thing to do. Tests in general are no fun for anyone of any age. Taking a little time to get to know these tests can help you feel more prepared and, as a result, more relaxed. There’s virtually no test easier to take than a hearing test!
How is a hearing test performed?
We often talk about making an appointment with a hearing specialist to have your hearing tested. And the phrase “hearing test” is something we’ve probably talked about from time to time. Maybe, you’ve heard that there are two kinds of hearing tests and you’re wondering what they are all about.
Well, that’s somewhat misleading. Because you might undergo a few different types of hearing tests, as it turns out. Each one is designed to measure something different or provide you with a specific result. The hearing tests you’re most likely to experience include the following:
- Pure-tone audiometry: Most people are probably familiar with this hearing test. You listen for a tone on a pair of headphones. You simply put up your right hand if you hear a tone in your right ear, and if you hear a tone in your left ear you raise your left hand. With this, we can figure out which frequencies and volumes of sound you can hear. And if you have more profound hearing loss in one ear, this test will also determine that.
- Speech audiometry: In some cases, hearing speech is an issue for you despite the fact that you can hear tones just fine. Speech is generally a more complex audio range so it can be more difficult to hear clearly. This test also consists of a pair of headphones in a quiet room. Instead of making you focus on tones, this test will be comprised of audible speech at various volumes to identify the lowest level you can hear a word and still comprehend it.
- Speech and Noise-in-Words Tests: Naturally, real-world conversations rarely occur in a vacuum. A speech and noise-in-words test will go through the same process as speech audiometry, but the test occurs in a noisy room rather than a quiet one. This mimics real-world situations to help figure out how your hearing is working in those settings.
- Bone conduction testing: This diagnostic is made to measure the function of your inner ear. A small sensor is placed near your cochlea and another is put on your forehead. Sound is then sent through a small device. How efficiently sound vibrations move through the ear is tracked by this test. If this test determines that sound is moving through your ear effectively it could suggest that you have a blockage.
- Tympanometry: On occasion, we’ll want to check the general health of your eardrum. Tympanometry is a test that is used for this purpose. During this test, a little device will gently push air into your ear and measure exactly how much your eardrum moves. The results of this test can identify whether there’s a hole in your eardrum, fluid behind your eardrum membrane, and more.
- Acoustic Reflex Measures: During this test, a tiny device supplies sound to your ear and measures the muscle response of your inner ear. It all happens by reflex, which means that your muscle movements can reveal a lot about how well your middle ear is working.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR): The ability of your inner ear and brain to respond to sound is measured by an ABR test. To accomplish this test, a couple of electrodes are tactically placed on your skull. Don’t worry, though! This test is completely painless. That’s why everyone from newborns to grandparents get this test.
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing: This type of testing will help identify if your inner ear and cochlea are working properly. This is accomplished by tracking sound that echo’s back to your middle ear from your inner ear. If your cochlea isn’t working efficiently or there’s a blockage, this test will detect it.
What do the results of hearing tests reveal?
It’s likely, you usually won’t take every single one of these hearing tests. We will choose one or two tests that best suit your symptoms and then go from there.
When we do a hearing test, what are we looking for? A hearing test can sometimes uncover the cause of your hearing loss. In other cases, the test you take might simply rule out other possible causes. Ultimately, we will get to the bottom of any hearing loss symptoms you are experiencing.
Here are some things that your hearing test can reveal:
- Which treatment strategy is best for your hearing loss: We will be more successfully able to treat your hearing loss once we’ve determined the cause.
- Which wavelengths of sound you have the hardest time hearing (some individuals have a hard time hearing high frequencies; other people have a difficult time hearing low sounds).
- Whether you are suffering from hearing loss or experiencing the symptoms related to hearing loss.
- How profound your hearing loss is (or, if you’ve had multiple tests over the years, how your hearing loss might have advanced).
Is there any difference between a hearing screening and a hearing test? The difference between a quiz and a test is an apt comparison. A screening is really superficial. A test is a lot more in-depth and can supply usable data.
The sooner you take this test, the better
That’s why it’s important to schedule a hearing test as soon as you notice symptoms. Don’t worry, this test won’t be super stressful, and you won’t need to study. Nor are hearing tests invasive or generally painful. We will provide you with all of the information about what to do and not to do before your hearing test.
It’s simple, just call and schedule an appointment.
