What to Expect at a Hearing Test

Hearing tests are an important step in determining if a person has hearing loss or some form of auditory disorder. It is also used to measure how well one can process and distinguish different sounds. Typically administered by professional audiologists, they will use the results of a hearing test to help diagnose hearing problems or check for ear infections.

Although there are five main stages or components, the majority of the testing process involves wearing headphones while situated in a soundproof space and responding to different tones and noises. Depending on the type of hearing test, it may evaluate one or both ears. A hearing test can often provide insight into overall hearing health, giving audiologists valuable information that helps them determine the best possible treatment options.

As each individual's hearing circumstances are different, not everyone will necessarily need to complete all five parts of the hearing exam. Nevertheless, understanding each stage allows for a smoother, more relaxed testing process as well as more accurate results. In general, the components of a comprehensive hearing test include:

Medical History Review

Otoscopy

Tympanometry

Speech Testing

Air and Bone Conduction Testing

Medical History Review

Hearing evaluations usually begin with a questionnaire about your past or current medications, family history, your extent of noise exposure, hobbies, occupational details, and any current hearing issues. Audiologists use this information to develop a general picture of your existing hearing health.

Otoscopy

At this stage of the assessment, an audiologist will inspect the internal areas of your outer and middle ear with an otoscope, which is an instrument that provides visual magnification with a directed light source. They will search for any physical impediments or abnormalities while also examining the eardrums for signs of damage.

Tympanometry

Tympanometries are primarily conducted to determine the flexibility of the eardrums with the use of a tympanometer probe. The pressure within the ear canal is manipulated, and a pure-tone sound stimulus is applied at various intervals, with the results being plotted on a general line graph known as a tympanogram. This test helps audiologists detect eardrum perforations or fluid buildup in the middle with greater accuracy.

Speech Testing

Speech testing is conducted in a soundproof room or booth with the subject wearing headphones. This stage of the test consists of two components: the Speech Recognition Threshold assessment, which measures how well the subject can recount words they hear as the volume is gradually decreased, and the Word Recognition Test, which measures the subject's ability to identify various words at a constant standardized volume. The combined results of both tests will assist audiologists in determining optimal treatment plans.

Air and Bone Conduction Testing

Audiologists use air and bone conduction tests to determine the root cause of a patient's hearing loss. For the air conduction test, the patient signals when they hear various frequencies or tones by pressing a button or raising their hand. For the bone conduction test, the patient wears a specialized headband that generates vibrations that directly evoke the auditory nerve. The patient's reactions to this external stimulation are recorded, and the aggregate data of both tests are used to determine whether the source of hearing loss stems from damage to the auditory nerve or from physical abnormalities in the ear.

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