Hearing loss is difficult, if not impossible, to self-diagnose. For example, you can’t actually put your ear next to a speaker and subjectively measure what you hear. That means that if you want to know what’s going on with your hearing, you need to take a test.
But there’s no need to be concerned or stress out because a hearing test is about as straightforward as putting on a high-tech pair of headphones.
But we get it, people don’t like tests. Whether you’re a high school student or middle-aged medical patient, tests are really just no fun. Taking a little time to become familiar with these tests can help you feel more prepared and, therefore, more comfortable. There’s almost no test easier to take than a hearing test!
How is a hearing test performed?
We often talk about scheduling an appointment with a hearing specialist to get your ears assessed. And we’ve likely used the phrase “hearing test” once or twice. Perhaps, you’ve heard that there are two kinds of hearing tests and you’re wondering what they’re all about.
Well, that’s not completely accurate. Because it turns out there are a few different hearing tests you may undergo. Each of them is made to measure something different or give you a specific result. The hearing tests you’re most likely to encounter include the following:
- Pure-tone audiometry: Most people are probably familiar with this hearing test. You listen for a sound on a set of headphones. Hear a pitch in your right ear? Raise your right hand. Hear the pitch in your left ear? Same thing! This will test your ability to hear a variety of wavelengths at a variety of volumes. And if you have more profound hearing loss in one ear, this test will also determine that.
- Speech audiometry: In some cases, you can hear tones very well, but hearing speech remains somewhat challenging. Speech is typically a more complex audio spectrum so it can be harder to hear with clarity. This test also consists of a pair of headphones in a quiet room. You will listen to speech at different volumes to determine the lowest level you can hear words and clearly comprehend them.
- Speech and Noise-in-Words Tests: Of course, real-world conversations almost never happen in a vacuum. A speech and noise-in-words test will go through the same procedure as speech audiometry, but the test takes place in a noisy room instead of a quiet one. This mimics real-world situations to help figure out how your hearing is working in those situations.
- Bone conduction testing: How well your inner ear is working will be determined by this test. A little sensor is placed near your cochlea and another is put on your forehead. A small device then receives sounds. This test tracks how well those sound vibrations travel through your inner ear. This test can usually detect whether there is an obstruction in your ear (ex: if you’re unable to hear, but your inner ear is working perfectly there might be some sort of obstruction blocking the sounds).
- Tympanometry: Sometimes, we’ll want to check the overall health of your eardrum. Tympanometry is a test that is used for this purpose. Air will be gently blown into your ear in order to measure how much movement your eardrum has. If you have fluid behind your eardrum, or a hole in your eardrum, this is the test that will reveal that.
- Acoustic Reflex Measures: A tiny device measures the muscle feedback of your inner ear after sending sound to it. The reflexive reaction of the muscle movement of your inner ear will help us determine how well it’s functioning.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR): An ABR test tries to measure how well the brain and inner ear are responding to sound. This is achieved by putting a couple of strategically placed electrodes on the outside of your skull. This test is completely painless so don’t worry. It’s one of the reasons why ABR testing is used on people from grandparents to newborns!
- Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing: This diagnostic is designed to measure how well your cochlea and inner ear are working. It does this by measuring the sound waves that echo back from your inner ear into your middle ear. This can identify whether your cochlea is working or, in some situations, if your ear is blocked.
What do the results of hearing tests reveal?
It’s likely, you probably won’t take every single one of these hearing tests. Usually, your specific symptoms will determine which of these tests will be suitable.
What do we look for in a hearing test? A hearing test can sometimes reveal the cause of your hearing loss. In other cases, the test you take might simply eliminate other possible causes. Essentially, we will get to the bottom of any hearing loss symptoms you are experiencing.
In general, your hearing test will uncover:
- Which treatment approach will be best for your hearing loss: Once we’ve established the cause of your hearing loss, we’ll be able to more successfully offer treatment solutions.
- Whether you are dealing with hearing loss or experiencing the symptoms related to hearing loss.
- How much your hearing loss has progressed and how significant it is.
- Whether your hearing loss is in a specific frequency range.
What is the difference between a hearing test and a hearing screening? The difference between a quiz and a test is a good example. A screening is rather superficial. A test is designed to provide usable data.
It’s best to get a hearing test as soon as possible
That’s why it’s important to schedule a hearing test when you first notice symptoms. Relax, you won’t have to study, and the test isn’t stressful. And the tests aren’t unpleasant or intrusive. We will give you all of the information about what to do and not to do before your hearing test.
Which means hearing tests are fairly easy, all you need to do is schedule them.