Self-diagnosing hearing loss is basically impossible. As an example, you can’t really evaluate your level of hearing by merely putting your ear next to a speaker. So getting your hearing tested will be essential in understanding what’s going on with your hearing.
Now, before you start sweating or anxiously fidgeting, it’s important to point out that the majority of hearing tests are very easy and involve nothing more taxing than putting on a pair of fancy headphones.
Alright, tests aren’t everyone’s favorite thing to do. Tests are generally no fun for anybody of any age. You will be more comfortable and more prepared if you take a little time to get to know these tests. A hearing test is probably the simplest test you’ll ever have to take!
How is a hearing test performed?
Talking about making an appointment to get a hearing assessment is something that is not that uncommon. And we’ve probably used the phrase “hearing test” once or twice. Maybe, you’ve heard that there are two kinds of hearing tests and you’re wondering what they are all about.
Well, that’s a bit misleading. Because it turns out there are a few different hearing tests you may undergo. Each one is made to measure something different or provide you with a specific result. Here are some of the hearing tests you’re likely to experience:
- Pure-tone audiometry: Most individuals are probably familiar with this hearing test. You listen for a tone on a pair of headphones. You simply raise your right hand if you hear a tone in your right ear, and if you hear a pitch in your left ear you put up your left hand. This will test your ability to hear a variety of wavelengths at a variety of volumes. It will also measure whether you have more significant hearing loss in one ear than the other.
- Speech audiometry: In some cases, hearing speech is a problem for you even though you can hear tones just fine. Speech is generally a more complex audio spectrum so it can be harder to hear clearly. This test also is comprised of a pair of headphones in a quiet room. You will listen to speech at various volumes to determine the lowest level you can hear words and clearly understand them.
- Speech and Noise-in-Words Tests: Naturally, real-world conversations almost never happen in a vacuum. A speech and noise-in-words test will go through the same procedure as speech audiometry, but the test occurs in a noisy room instead of a quiet one. This can help you determine how well your hearing is functioning in real-world scenarios.
- Bone conduction testing: How well your inner ear is functioning will be determined by this test. Two little sensors are placed, one on your forehead, and the other on your cochlea. A small device then receives sounds. How efficiently sound vibrations travel through the ear is measured by this test. If this test establishes that sound is traveling through your ear effectively it could suggest that you have a blockage.
- Tympanometry: Sometimes, we’ll want to check the general health of your eardrum. Tympanometry is a test that is used for this purpose. Air will be gently blown into your ear so that we can measure how much movement your eardrum has. The results of this test can indicate whether there’s a hole in your eardrum, fluid behind your eardrum membrane, and more.
- Acoustic Reflex Measures: A tiny device measures the muscle response of your inner ear after delivering sound to it. It all happens by reflex, which means that your muscle movements can tell us 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. This is accomplished by putting a couple of strategically placed electrodes on the outside of your skull. This test is entirely painless so don’t worry. It’s one of the reasons why ABR testing is used on everyone from grandparents to newborns!
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing: This diagnostic is designed to determine how well your cochlea and inner ear are working. It does this by measuring the sound waves that echo back from your inner ear into your middle ear. This can identify whether your cochlea is working or, in some situations, if your ear is blocked.
What do the results of hearing tests tell us?
You most likely won’t need to get all 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 expose the cause of your hearing loss. In other circumstances, the test you take may just rule out other possible causes. Essentially, we will get to the bottom of any hearing loss symptoms you are noticing.
Here are some things that your hearing test can reveal:
- The best strategy for managing your hearing loss: Once we’ve identified the cause of your hearing loss, we’ll be able to more successfully offer treatment solutions.
- How much your hearing loss has advanced and how significant it is.
- Which frequency of sound you have the most difficult time hearing (some individuals have a hard time hearing high wavelengths; other people have a tough time hearing low sounds).
- Whether you’re dealing with symptoms associated with hearing loss or hearing loss itself.
Is there any difference between a hearing screening and a hearing test? The difference between a quiz and a test is a good comparison. A screening is very superficial. A test is designed to provide usable data.
It’s best to get tested as soon as you can
So as soon as you detect symptoms, you should schedule a hearing test. Relax, you won’t need to study, and the test isn’t stressful. Nor are hearing tests invasive or generally unpleasant. We will give you all of the information about what to do and not to do before your hearing test.
It’s easy, just call and schedule an appointment.