A Guide to Hearing Tests

Hearing tests are an essential way for you to monitor and manage your hearing. But what exactly are do they involve? And when do you need one?

What is a hearing test?

A hearing test is a series of procedures carried out by an audiologist – a trained medical professional who has decided to specialize in diagnosing and treating hearing loss. There are many possible procedures that an audiologist will use to check your hearing, including asking you to listen to sounds through headphones. The purpose of the hearing test is to assess your current state of hearing, whether it’s your first visit or you’re just going for a checkup. At the end of the test, the audiologist will be able to tell you whether you need hearing aids, whether you need to change the settings on your assistive hearing devices or whether your hearing has improved or deteriorated since your last visit.

When might you need a hearing test?

Most professional audiologists recommend that all people over the age of 25 get regular hearing tests. The reason for routine tests is simple: hearing loss is often a slow process and you might not notice whether your hearing is deteriorating from one year to the next. Hearing tests provide an objective measure for you to discover whether you have experienced any hearing loss and if you require a hearing aid.

Hearing loss can affect different people in different ways. Some people may struggle to pick out certain voices in a loud room, while others may find it difficult to hear the TV without turning up the volume. If you notice any loss in the clarity or fidelity of your hearing, it’s a good idea to have it checked out by an audiologist. The audiologist will be able to tell you whether the hearing loss is temporary or permanent and can offer a variety of interventions and treatments.

What happens during a hearing test?

Hearing tests usually last around an hour and comprise several different, non-invasive techniques to assess the current state of your hearing.

The first part of any hearing test usually involves making a visual inspection of the ear to determine whether hearing loss is the result of a physical problem, such as impacted earwax or injury or something subtler. Next, you may be asked to put on a pair of headphones and listen to various sounds, including noises of different frequencies and people’s voices. These tests help the audiologist build up a profile of the precise nature of your hearing loss. Finally, the audiologist will perform a medical history questionnaire to discover if there are any potential links between medications you’re taking and hearing loss. It’s important to note that all procedures in a hearing test are pain-free.

What documents do you need to bring?

It’s a good idea to bring the following documents:

• Insurance documents: Insurance documents can be reviewed to determine if a hearing test is covered
• Medical history: Audiologists may want to see your medical history to determine whether anything could be related to your hearing loss.
• Records of hearing issues: Any documentation regarding hearing loss issues in the past.