What You Need to Know About Hearing Tests

If you thought a hearing test only involved tone-testing, you were misled at some point. Your audiologist will first have to perform a physical exam to check the condition of the inner ear and the earwax content. These things can affect the test's outcome. 

Your audiologists will use an otoscope to carry out the physical exam. This is a long ear canal shaped tool with a light on the end. Some digital otoscopes show your ear on a digital screen, allowing the audiologist to examine the details of the inner ear with too much intrusion or discomfort.  

There is a consultation 

Before the hearing test can get started there is a consultation with the audiologist to ascertain the necessary details about your medical history and your hearing complaint. You will be required to bring your medical records with your when you initially visit. 

The consultation will involve a conversation about your hearing issues, about when they began and the quality of them. It's important that you are honest and that you give your audiologist an accurate picture of the issues; this will help them ascertain the best testing procedure for you. 

The tests are pain free

When some people think about a hearing test at the audiologist, they have some idea that it will be painful. Perhaps there will be probes put deep into the ear canal or some form of electrical testing. This is not the case. The majority of tests are completely pain free. 

Most people begin with a pure-tone test which is a simple time test in a quiet room. This test determines your range of hearing and only requires you to listen and respond. A pure-tone test might be combined with a speech test or bone conduction test. These are also pain free. 

You get instant results

When you think about medical testing you tend to think the results won't be available for some time. This is usually the case, especially with hospital testing. But with hearing tests you get the results right away, on the same day. This is useful and reassuring. 

Once your hearing test is complete the data is charted on a graph called an audiogram. The audiogram tells you what range of hearing you have and indicates the cause of your hearing loss. Using this graph and data, your audiologist will determine the next step for your hearing health. 

The results can surprise you 

A hearing test is not a pass or fail type of test. It is rather a test to discover what you and your audiologist needs to know to improve your lifestyle and protect your hearing in the future. Still the results might surprise you. 

Most people don't realize when their hearing is starting to go, at least not as much as tests might reveal. These tests might show that your hearing range is lower than you assumed which can have consequences. Keep an open mind, a hearing test is a beneficial process.