4 FAQs About Hearing Tests

Despite being advised to have hearing tests on an annual (or at least bi-annual basis), millions of Americans can count the amount of tests they’ve had on one hand. As such, the sense of unknowingness can be rather scary, which may discourage you from booking a test that you severely need.

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. Hopefully, they can put your fears to bed and provide a little more information before you visit your local audiology center.

How long does a hearing test last?

While no two patients are the same, a general estimate regarding the duration of a hearing test would be one hour. This will include a brief discussion with the audiologist, as well as all tests and any questions that you may want to ask.

However, those with hearing loss or other issues may find that the tests take a little longer in order to determine the severity of those issues. Meanwhile, it may take some time to test different hearing aids in a bid to find a comfortable and high-performing device built specifically for your needs.

What happens during the test?

A thorough hearing test comprises of several stages, as this is the only way to successfully check all aspects of your hearing health. Those elements include;

• An audiometry assessment: This is a test used to analyze your general hearing capabilities, including pitch recognition.
• Tympanometry: This gives the audiologist a chance to test the mobility of your ear drum by placing a probe in the outer ear.
• Speech reception test: This assessment is to check how easily you can recognize speech. This involves repeating simple phrases as they get lower in volume.
• Speech discrimination testing: This test checks your ability to hear speech in a clear fashion under conditions that match normal life.

The audiologist will also ask questions about your background and daily activities while also conducting a physical examination of the ears.

Who carries out the hearing tests?

Not just anyone can take a look at your delicate ears. Only an experienced audiologist with the medical background and skills needed to use all hearing test equipment will be ready to diagnose and treat any issues that may be found.

Generally speaking, an audiologist will have completed a four-year doctoral degree in audiology, although many (like ours) have completed additional qualifications. Credentials can easily be found via the internet and should form a significant part of the research process prior to booking.

What else can hearing tests detect?

While primarily designed to help patients with hearing loss and difficulties, hearing tests can be used to spot signs of various other problems. From simple issues like ear wax buildups and infections to more serious issues like Meniere’s disease, the audiologist can spot it all.

Aside from identifying problems, the audiologist will discuss possible treatments and preventative measures for the long-term care. Either way, this is your first step en route to a more comfortable life, and not only be maintaining your general hearing levels.