Hearing Testing: What It Is and What To Expect

No Worries. Testing is Painless, Affordable and a Real Must!

When worried about your hearing loss or the hearing loss of a loved one, the first step to take is a hearing test. An audiologist can conduct the test and will quickly be able to determine if you are indeed hard of hearing or hearing impaired.

Hearing impairment must be taken seriously and hearing tests are the only way to determine the degree to which someone is losing their hearing.

You should your family doctor for a referral to an audiologist, or perhaps you have friends or loved ones who already rely on one. Of course, you can always search for an audiologist online or in your local phonebook.

The audiologist will perform a professional hearing evaluation, during which your lifestyle will be assessed, your hearing aid needs determined and your personal style of interacting with those around you. You should discuss any hearing loss you or an individual you are close to has noticed, detailing the times you felt hard of hearing and including the circumstances that surrounded these times, etc.

Next, your ears will be thoroughly examined with an otoscope, a completely safe and painless procedure that allows the audiologist to view inside your ear with a very short, very narrow instrument. The audiologist will be looking for any reason you may be suffering from hearing loss or feeling as though you are hearing impaired. This may include wax build-up, eardrum damage, or something other quickly and easily remedied problem.

After the quick physical exam of your ears, the audiologist will perform a comprehensive hearing test or evaluation, also known as an audiogram. This testing helps pinpoint your hearing loss and is crucial to determining hearing impairment. During this painless test, your speech recognition and loudness discomfort levels will be tested.

The audiologist will then sit down with you and discuss the test results, the degree of your hearing loss or hearing impairment and cover any questions you may have regarding your hearing aid needs, hearing aid technology, the possibility of growing more deaf, etc.

Impressions of your ears may be made at this time, as well, as this will help determine the hearing aid style and the types of hearing aids that are best for you. These same impressions will be used after you order hearing aids from the hearing aid manufacturer to ensure the very best fit possible and provide you with optimal comfort.

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