Hearing is the sense we use to live, learn, and connect with others. We use it when listening to music and having conversations with family or friends. We also use it when listening for alarms, sirens, or traffic. Hearing loss can make those activities difficult and put ourselves in jeopardy. The only way to ensure your hearing is at an appropriate level is to have a hearing test.
If you’ve never had one before, it’s natural to feel a little nervous about it. The good news is they are painless, quick, and safe. They are also the best way to detect hearing loss. In this blog, we will walk through what happens during a hearing test and why they are essential.
Why Hearing Tests are Important
Hearing loss can happen slowly over time. As a result, people often don’t recognize the changes in their hearing. They might realize they are missing parts of conversations, or find it hard to hear in crowded places, or need to turn up the TV more than usual, but don’t want to admit it. These issues can lead to loneliness, anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Hearing tests enable hearing health professionals to diagnose any issues and provide appropriate treatment options. Early diagnosis can make a big difference in how well treatments work.
Getting Ready for the Test
Hearing health professionals conduct the test. They have the training and the skills to diagnose and treat hearing loss.
Before the actual test begins, the hearing health professional will discuss your hearing history and address any concerns you might have. This is known as the case history part of the test.
They might ask:
- Do you notice hearing loss in one ear or both?
- Are you frequently in noisy environments?
- Have you had frequent ear infections?
- Do you have ringing in your ears?
- Do other people say you have trouble hearing?
After completing the case history, they will look inside your ears with an otoscope. They can detect if you have earwax buildup, infection, or any other blockages that might impact the hearing test results.
The Hearing Test Process
Several different tests may be performed to check your entire hearing health system:
- Pure-Tone Audiometry
- Speech Recognition Testing
- Tympanometry
- Bone Conduction Testing
- Otoacoustic Emissions
Pure-Tone Audiometry
During this test, you will wear headphones and listen to various pitches played at different volumes. This determines the softest audible sounds you can hear.
Speech Recognition Testing
This test determines how easily you can understand speech. You will repeat a series of words you hear on a recording.
Tympanometry
This determines how well your eardrum moves when it receives pressure. This will show if there is fluid buildup, infection, or a physical hole in the eardrum affecting hearing.
Bone Conduction Testing
This test uses a vibrating device placed behind your ear. This sends sound through the bones of the inner ear and helps to determine if hearing loss is occurring in the inner, middle, or outer ear.
Otoacoustic Emissions
Hearing health professionals use a small probe to measure the sounds the inner ear makes in response to clicks and other tones. If the ear makes specific sounds, it means the inner ear hair cells are working correctly. This test is most frequently performed on young children and newborns.
After the Test
Once all the tests are done, the hearing health professional will go over the results with you. They will explain the findings and offer audiograms, which display how well you’re able to hear specific sounds. If the tests determine you have hearing loss, the information will show what type and how serious it is. It will also provide options for treatment.
These options may include:
- Hearing aids
- Medical treatment or surgery
- Assistive listening devices
- Communication strategies
The goal of the test is to help you cope with your hearing loss and build your confidence in social situations to enjoy everyday life.
Conclusion
A hearing test is a simple but powerful way to check your hearing health. It helps detect problems and provide information for hearing health professionals to provide the best treatment.