No matter what type of health concern you are experiencing, the earlier you can get a diagnosis, the better it will be for you. So, if you are encountering some troubles with your hearing, it’s important to go to an audiologist and have your hearing tested right away.
How does a hearing test work? Check out the different steps involved in conducting hearing tests.
1. Medical History Discussions
For an audiologist to understand your hearing issues, you’ll be asked to do several different things. First, you will be asked about your medical history. This includes talking about the health conditions you have and any surgeries or other procedures your family has had.
Audiologists will also want to know if you have had any ear infections in the past and if you have experienced any problems with your ears. They will also ask you what kind of ear protection you use in noisy environments.
Next, you’ll have some hearing health examination questions answered. This includes what kind of medications you are taking, what kind of physical activity you engage in, and what kind of hearing aids you have had in the past.
You may also be required to agree to some disclosures to access the audiology results.
2. Inner Ear Examination
After the consultation, you will be asked to sit in a soundproofed room where a hearing specialist can perform an exam on your ears.
An instrument called an audiometer will be placed in or very near to your ear. This electronic device has a number of settings that you can choose from to amplify sounds. It will also have special tones that you can use to test your hearing.
The audiologist will ask you to sit in a soundproofed room and then read off the letters you hear when you press the button. They will check your hearing at multiple frequencies in each ear to determine how well your inner ear works.
3. Rinne Test
A Rinne test is another type of hearing test that an audiologist can conduct on you. During this test, an audiologist will use the same audiometer device and ask you to read the letters on a screen.
They will have someone sit behind you and put their hands over your ears. By doing this, they block out your ear canals so you can’t hear the sound wave as it enters your ear.
This test helps the audiologist determine how well your hearing works when your eardrum is unable to pick up the sound.
4. Weber Test
This test is used to help determine if you have conductive hearing loss. First, you will sit in a soundproofed room. Then, the audiologist will put a vibrating tuning fork into the middle of your forehead.
The tuning fork will vibrate, and you will be asked to tell the audiologist when you first hear the sound. They will do this with both ears, and they will also do this with each ear blocked.
5. Discussion of Results
Once the hearing test has been conducted, you will be able to talk with your audiologist to discuss the test results.
The first thing your audiologist will do is check for the appropriate documentation for your test. Listen carefully to the sounds played through the audiometer to ensure that you are hearing them correctly.
The hearing consultant will then look at the types of test results to determine whether you have a hearing loss using the appropriate tools. For example, if you have conductive hearing loss, they will recommend a bone-anchored hearing aid.
Final Thoughts
Taking a hearing test is an integral part of maintaining healthy hearing. By understanding how your ears work, you can be in the best position to address any concerns you may be having. By working with an audiologist, you can take the right steps to care for your hearing to keep your ears healthy for years to come.
For a free hearing test in Lexington, schedule an appointment at Hear More Associates. Our hearing experts will assist you throughout the testing process and help you understand the signs of hearing loss you are experiencing. Call us today at 781-863-8282 to get started.
