What Can I Expect from the Audiologist?

If you’ve never been to an audiologist’s office, you might not know what to expect from the exam process. Here are the four basic steps your audiologist will take to evaluate and treat your hearing.

Gathering your case history

First, your audiologist will ask you a series of questions and have you fill out some basic information about you and your family’s medical and hearing history. This helps the audiologist assess whether you’re at risk for certain conditions and diseases. It’s also the prime opportunity for you to express why you’re in the office (in fact, that might be one of the first questions you’re asked).

Administering an otoscope exam

Before an audiologist tests your hearing, they need to examine the inside of your ears to make sure there are no obstructions or visible conditions that require the care of a medical doctor. They do this with a lighted tool known as an otoscope and the process is quick and completely painless.

Running a series of hearing tests 

The hearing tests will take up the bulk of your appointment time. The specific tests an audiologist uses to assess your hearing will be based on your age, hearing history and suspected conditions, but usually includes the following:

• Pure-tone testing. This determines the faintest tone you can hear at each pitch. You’ll be asked to respond to the tones with a button or by raising your hand.
• Speech testing. This backs up pure tone tests by recording your word recognition at different volumes and your ability to repeat what you’ve heard at comfortable levels.
• Middle ear testing. These tests measure the reflexive response of your eardrum by feeding air and/or sound into your ear canal.
• Auditory brain steam response (ABR). This tests your inner ear and auditory nerve function. Electrodes are attached to your head to measure your brain wave activity in response to sound.
• Otoacoustic emissions. This test measures the vibration of hair cells in your inner ear when the cochlea responds to sound.

All these tests work together to help an audiologist determine whether you have hearing loss, what caused it, what type of hearing loss you have and the severity. 

Providing treatment options

Based on your case history, otoscope exam and hearing tests, an audiologist will recommend the best treatment options for you – whether hearing aids, other listening devices, therapy or medical treatment with another professional.