What Are the Features of a Modern Hearing Test?

Hearing tests are relatively simple, and amongst the services most frequently performed by an audiologist. It’s the best way to get down to the roots of any changes in hearing you may have experienced and an accurate way to diagnose hearing loss. Your audiologist can look at potential causes of hearing loss, treatment options, and help you better understand any hearing loss you might experience. To give you an idea of what to expect, we’re going to look at the different features of the modern hearing test below.

Preparation for the test

There are no specific ways you need to prepare for a hearing test. However, if you do come down with an illness like the flu or cold, it’s recommended that you call ahead of time to reschedule. These illnesses can affect the pressure in your ear, which can affect your hearing and skew the results.

Getting to know more about

When you arrive at the office, the first part of the appointment will be all about learning more about you as a patient. As such, at the reception, you will be given forms to fill in which cover personal information, medical history, and insurance details. After that, you will proceed to the audiologist’s office, where you have a more detailed conversation on medical and lifestyle details, including medical conditions you have experienced, medication, any hearing health symptoms or issues. It will also include talking about your lifestyle, exposure to noise and other potential risk factors. This is all kept entirely confidential and is only used to make sure the audiologist is informed in their diagnosis.

The otoscope examination

The audiologist will take a look at the outer ear, both with an examination from the naked eye and with the use of an otoscope. This device is minimally invasive and not-at-all uncomfortable, being placed against the outer ear and allowing the audiologist to see into the ear canal. These devices often feature light and zooming features and may even have a camera. As such, if there are any physical factors in the ear that could point to hearing issues, the audiologist may be able to show you to help you better understand the cause hearing loss or other issues.

The modern hearing test

A hearing test is what most of the time during your appointment is going to be spent on. You will have a range of noises played to you, often through a headset and in a soundproof booth or room to ensure the most accurate results. One test may involve hearing a range of tones at different pitches/frequencies and volumes, and being asked to confirm when you do and do not hear the tone. The speech test involves listening to people speak at different pitches/frequencies, volumes and with different levels of background noise before you are asked to repeat what you heard.

Looking over the audiogram

The purpose of the hearing tests is that the audiologist can record details, noting what you can accurately hear at different pitches, volumes and circumstances. These details are filled into a form called an audiogram, which provides a visual representation of your hearing range. Once the hearing tests are complete, you will go over the audiogram for both ears, which your audiologist can use to diagnose the different severities of hearing loss. They will explain the audiogram in detail and may schedule further tests, such as a test to measure how your eardrum reacts to pressure if they believe if may be affecting your hearing.

Following up with your hearing test

After the hearing test is done, the audiologist may proceed in a number of ways. If there is a physical cause of the hearing loss, such as earwax blockage, then they may arrange an appointment for a professional cleaning or simply do it right there. In most cases, the most effective way to treat hearing loss is with a hearing aid. The audiologist will help you look over your options depending on your needs, and help you select the right hearing aids. After it is ordered, and after any required custom molds of your ears are taken, they will call you back for a hearing aid fitting.

Arrange your hearing test today

If you have any reason to suspect you may be experiencing hearing loss, then a hearing test from your audiologist at Grusecki Audiology and Hearing Aid Services is the most convenient and comprehensive way to find out for sure. Call us at (623) 242-5982 to learn more and arrange your test whenever suits you.