The Hearing Test Explained

 

Case History

I will ask you a few questions about your hearing and general health.

Examination of the Ear

I will examine the outside of your ears first, then I will look in your ears with a light checking the health of your ear canal and eardrum.

Audiometry

I will measure what are the faintest sounds you can hear in a quiet environment through headphones. You will have to press a button or raise your hand every time you hear a beep or tone. The sounds start off louder and decrease gradually until they are very faint. This will tell me if your hearing is within the normal range or in the case of a hearing loss, what type and what level of hearing loss is present.

The audiometric procedure involves the following tests;

Pure tone testing (Audiometry)
Speech testing (Audiometry)

Audiometry ( Hearing Test)

This group of tests is plotted on an audiogram which shows your hearing sensitivity. It answers the question of whether or not your hearing sensitivity is within the normal range, or if there is a hearing loss. The test results are also used as a tool to reveal any asymmetry (hearing sensitivity that is not equal between the two ears). The audiometric configuration (the “shape” of the thresholds) and the rest of the group of tests also give me information toward a diagnosis of ear abnormalities. 

How it is performed

This battery of tests involves carefully listening through headphones that are placed over the ears or insert earphones that are placed in the ear canals. Next, pure tones will be presented through the headphones or insert earphones, as well as through a bone conduction vibrator on a headband that is placed behind the ear. You will listen for the softest level you can detect, and will push a button or raise your hand in response. This will determine your hearing thresholds.

Additional tests may be added to the group of tests if asymmetry of thresholds is found, or if you have tinnitus or dizziness.

Speech Testing

Words will be presented at a comfortable listening level and you will have to repeat them. This test gives me further information on the status of your inner ear function. It can help diagnose nerve damage/deterioration and is a good indicator of the possible benefit from a hearing aid. This group of tests is plotted on my system which allows me to assess the impact that your hearing loss is having on your understanding of speech sounds. The test results are used as a tool to reveal exactly how your loss is effecting your understanding of speech in both quiet and noisy situations. This test and the rest of the group of tests also give me information toward a diagnosis of ear abnormalities. This test is also an excellent tool for assisting me in the recommendation of suitable hearing aids because it allows me to define the sounds in speech that you have the most difficulty with.

How it is performed

During these tests, you will be asked to repeat words that are presented to you at normal speech volume levels. Word recognition scores will be determined when you repeat words that are presented at this normal listening level. 

Hearing Aid Benefit Assessment

If you are a suitable candidate for hearing aids, I will then move onto a hearing aid benefit assessment. During this test, I use my fitting suite to fit a set of suitable hearing aids to your defined loss. This will allow me to test if you will benefit from hearing aids, it will also allow you to begin to understand the benefits.