Summary: We will outline what you should know about a hearing exam, provide an overview of the various types of hearing exams available, describe how the Pure Tone Audiometry exam works, and provide information on how to locate an audiologist nearby. Additionally, we will examine the reliability of online hearing testing and the best time to participate in these tests.
Introduction: If you find yourself frequently asking others to repeat themselves, or if you have difficulty understanding people in situations where there is a lot of background noise, then you may be ready for a hearing test. In our everyday life, hearing is among our most utilised senses; it is used for communicating with one another, listening to music, being alert to dangers around us, and connecting with others. Many individuals are not aware of the signs that indicate they have experienced some level of hearing impairment.Â
Key takeaways:
- Hearing aids are important to hear the real-world sounds in a clear tone and way by reducing the internal ringing and buzzing.
- The best hearing aids are those that often have built-in sound therapy features to distract you from tinnitus.
- Hearing aids are not a permanent cure for tinnitus; they only help to improve the quality of sound and life.
- Tinnitus masking uses soothing tones or white noise to help cover up the sounds of tinnitus.
- Ideal candidates for the tinnitus hearing aids are those who also have a mild hearing loss with tinnitus.
Table of Contents
What Is a Hearing Test?
The typical hearing test includes a series of tests & measures your degree of sound audibility via sounds, tonal (pitches) and speech recognition (as well as complex sounds). The type and seriousness of hearing impairment can also be detected via an audiogram.
You can have any degree of hearing disability at any time, but age, noise exposure (loud), ear infection, or some medical conditions are among the most common causes of hearing loss. Detecting hearing ability problems early on makes diagnosing such issues easier to handle. As such, it is advised by many healthcare professionals to have listening and speech understanding ability evaluations on a timely basis, especially with individuals over 50-60 years of age or when working in a noisy environment.
Signs You May Need a Hearing Test
A lot of individuals wait to have their online hearing test because they feel like it isn’t really impaired. The following are common signs that point to the need to visit an audiologist:
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- Regularly asking people to repeat their answers
- Having to put the volume of the TV or music much higher than normal
- Having trouble hearing in noisy situations
- Having a constant ringing or buzzing noise in your ears (tinnitus)
- Having trouble understanding what people are saying, as they appear to be mumbling
If any of these signs are present, start searching for an audiologist near you and schedule a consultation.
Types of Hearing Tests
There are several different types of hearing tests designed for measuring different things. Each test has a particular reason for being performed. To get a better understanding of what is being done, we will go over them in layman’s terms.
A Pure Tone Audiometry Test
The pure-tone audiometry test is one of the most frequently administered and trusted hearing exams. During this test, you will:
- You will wear headphones and listen to tones of varying pitches and levels.
- When you hear a sound, you will be required to respond to the sound in one of the following ways: Either press a button or raise your hand.
- This test measures the softest sound that you can hear through various frequencies (pitches).
- The results allow for the determination of the type and degree of hearing loss experienced.
- Upon completion of the pure tone audiometry test, results are presented in the form of an audiogram, which illustrates the results of your hearing ability.
The Pure Tone Audiometry Test is a quick, safe, and painless method of obtaining an accurate assessment of your hearing ability and will often be the first step in diagnosing any hearing problems.
Speech Audiometry
Speech audiometry is performed to measure how clearly and accurately you hear and understand speech. You will basically be required to repeat back a list of spoken words (at various volume levels).
This test will measure how clear the speech is and how well you understand the spoken words.
Tympanometry
Tympanometry assesses the movement of your eardrum. Assessing the eardrum’s movement helps identify problems in the middle ear that include fluid accumulation and/or infection.
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
The use of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is a way to determine whether the inner ear produces sound waves. OAE is an auditory screening method for infants; however, adults can also have their hearing tested with OAE.
Online hearing test
Online hearing examinations are a simple and fast way to assess your hearing (using your PC or mobile device). The method involves listening to sounds through headphones, then responding to those sounds posted with an audio file.
Although the online hearing test indicates your hearing level accurately, it is not nearly as reliable as a professional test performed in a professional clinic or office. If the results of your hearing assessment through an online hearing evaluation show that you may have
Why Regular Hearing Tests Are Important
People mostly think that hearing loss is a normal process that is part of ageing. While at the time, age-related hearing loss is common, why let it impact your life quality and social relations? Here are the reasons why regular hearing tests are important:
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- This helps to prevent further damage.
- This helps to keep your relationships and social interactions.
- Saves from the risks of social isolation
- Helps you to prevent cognitive decline.
- Allows you to get timely use of the hearing aids.
Getting the hearing aids is important for you. Even this is a responsible step for new beginnings.
What Happens During a Hearing Test Appointment?
Once you’ve identified an audiologist near you, you’ll need to schedule an appointment. The following is a brief outline of what you should anticipate during the testing of your hearing:
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- Discussing Your Medical History: The audiologist will first enquire about your previous medical and/or current symptoms.
- Examining Your Ears: Audiologists will check for excessive amounts of wax in your ears, any signs of illness, and/or obstruction of the ear canal.
- Testing Your Hearing: You will be required to do several different types of hearing tests.
- Providing You with a Treatment Plan and Recommendations: The audiologist will provide you with recommendations for treatment.
There is nothing to be concerned with, and the process will take only 20 to 30 minutes!
How to find the best audiologist for a hearing test?
To find the best audiologist for your next hearing test, you can utilise the online directories and filter them as per your choices, such as experience, location or professionals’ specialisation/qualifications. Look at the professional’s specialisation. At our clinic Ear Solutions, we provide comprehensive services like hearing aid trials, consultations, and advanced diagnostics.
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Here is how to find the best audiologist:
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- Top-rated local options: choose the nearby top-rated hearing care providers with the filters of location and take suggestions from your neighbours.
- Check the credentials: make sure that the audiologist you are choosing is licensed and, if possible, has an NPI number if in the US or any recognised Indian qualification like BASLP/MASLP.
- Evaluate services: choose our clinic, Ear Solutions, which provides various kinds of services, including audiometry tests, hearing aid repairs and hearing aid replacement.
- Location convenience: select the clinic that is easily accessible for your future follow-up appointments, as hearing care requires various visits and appointments.
Conclusion
We all want a life full of joy and peace, but in this, if we start facing any health issues, it disturbs the whole schedule of our life. Hearing loss is a problem that can sound common, but it can impact your day-to-day lifestyle and social interactions, so it becomes important to have a hearing test for your better health. If you see any kind of hearing problem arising, it is better to go for a hearing test as soon as possible; early detection can save your hearing issues from getting worse.
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Check your hearing power now before your life struggles worsen or social interaction gets less.
FAQs
A hearing test measures how well you can hear sound (often represented as a range of different sounds, like tones and speech) from an audiologist. The hearing loss or type of hearing loss will be displayed on an audiogram, as well as confirmed by a series of different tests.
There are several different types of hearing tests: Pure Tone Audiometry Test, Speech Audiometry, Tympanometry, OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions), and Online Hearing Test.
A pure tone audiometry test is a commonly used hearing test that uses headphones and produces different tones in order to determine your level of hearing loss (degree and type).
An online hearing test provides you with a good indication of your overall hearing level, but should not replace an audiologist’s hearing test.
If you’re frequently asking others to repeat themselves, you have to turn the television volume up very high, you have trouble hearing when there’s background noise, or you hear sounds like ringing or buzzing without a source. You need a hearing assessment to evaluate the chance for hearing loss.
Prerna Singh
Audiologist, Ear Solutions
Prerna Singh is an Audiologist at Ear Solutions, focused on delivering compassionate, patient-centric hearing care. She works closely with individuals to understand their hearing concerns and guide them toward practical, technology-driven solutions that improve everyday communication and confidence.
At Ear Solutions, Prerna supports the organization’s long-standing mission of transforming lives through better hearing. She is committed to hearing awareness, accurate assessments, and continuous patient support-ensuring every individual receives the care they need to hear better and live better, in line with the vision of #AbSabSunenge.
