A hearing test is the essential first step in treating hearing loss. We know that beginning any new treatment or health journey can be intimidating, and you may be nervous before your first hearing test. We’ve compiled a handy guide on what to expect so you can walk into our clinic confident and excited for what’s to come.
How Long Will the Appointment Last?
Most hearing test appointments will last between 60 and 90 minutes. While the test itself may not take very long, you and your audiologist will have much to discuss, which may take more time.
Step One: Intake Discussion
This first conversation between you and your audiologist will set the stage for the appointment. You’ll list your symptoms and other hearing-related things you’ve noticed, as well as your overall health history. This will help your audiologist gather information on your hearing loss. They will also ask questions about your hobbies, work and lifestyle to ascertain the noise levels you’re commonly exposed to.
Step Two: The Hearing Test(s)
You’re probably familiar with the pure-tone hearing test: you sit in a soundproof room, wear headphones and listen for beeps at various tones and volumes. But there are actually several different types of hearing tests, and they each have their own function. Some examples include:
- Bone conduction testing, which can help determine if your hearing loss is conductive (of the outer or middle ear) or sensorineural (of the inner ear or central processing center of the brain)
- Speech testing, which evaluates your listening comprehension when listening to speech
- Typanometry, which checks for anatomical abnormalities or blockages in the outer and middle ear
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR testing), which measures brainwave activity in response to sound, evaluating the auditory processing capabilities of the brain
Which tests are performed at your appointment will depend on a variety of factors, largely determined by your age, history and what was discussed in step one.
Step Three: Review Results and Consultation
You’ll get your results right away. Your audiologist will go over your hearing test results—which will be on a printout called an audiogram—and explain what you can hear well, what you might struggle to hear, the potential cause (or causes) of your hearing loss, differences in hearing between your left and right ear and what type of hearing loss you have.
At this point, your audiologist can begin creating a personalized long-term hearing loss treatment plan for you. This may involve hearing aids or other assistive listening technology. You may even try on some devices! Your audiologist’s expertise and knowledge of modern technology will ensure that you’re getting the perfect care you need for your hearing loss.
If you’re ready to begin your hearing loss treatment journey, or if you haven’t had a hearing test and you know you probably should, call Premier Medical Group today to make a hearing test appointment!