Top FAQs About Hearing Tests

You should take great care of your hearing health; after all, it is one of the most vital senses, particularly in social situations and everyday life. It is possible that you have begun to realize that your hearing has been deteriorating over time. Perhaps you are asking people to repeat themselves more frequently, or you have noticed that things are becoming a little more difficult to comprehend. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with an audiologist to get your hearing tested in these conditions.

Whatever your reason for scheduling an appointment with an audiologist, you may have some questions you would like to ask ahead of time, particularly if you have never seen one before. Here, we look at some of the most frequently asked questions about hearing tests.

What Happens at A Hearing Test?

A hearing check-up is comprehensive and consists of an examination of your ears, followed by a series of sound tests to determine your hearing ability. An otoscope is used by the audiologist to examine your ear canal and eardrum for signs of physical damage or infection. These could involve excess earwax, an infection, an injury to the eardrum or other problems.

Following that examination, the hearing tests will be performed. The first step is usually a pure-tone test, which determines how well you can distinguish between sound volume and sound frequency. You’ll listen to tones at different volumes and pitches and tell the audiologist in which ear you hear them.

Next, you will have a speech test. You will be listening to words that are whispered or softly spoken during this exam. When you hear a word, you have to repeat it back to the tester to pass the test. 

How Long Does a Hearing Test Take?

For an audiologist to do a thorough examination of your hearing health and determine the extent of any hearing loss you may have, a full hearing test can take up to an hour. This includes talking to you about the results of the hearing test as well. 

What Do I Need to Take with Me to My Hearing Test?

You may be asked to take your medical records with you so that your audiologist can gain a better understanding of your hearing health. It could also be a good idea to begin keeping track of the times and settings in which you have been experiencing difficulty hearing. This could therefore assist your audiologist in determining the extent of any hearing loss you may be experiencing.

What Are the Next Steps in the Process?

Following the completion of the hearing tests, your audiologist will describe the next measures to take in order to determine the type of hearing loss that has occurred and what may be causing the issues. This could include being measured up and fitted for hearing aids, which can result in a considerable increase in your hearing as well as your overall quality of life as a result of them.

Are All Forms of Hearing Loss Irreversible?

Some hearing loss is permanent, although other hearing loss types are transient and things will improve over time. It is your audiologist who will be the best person to tell you what the findings of your hearing test are and what you can expect to happen.