Everything You Need to Know About Hearing Tests

Have you recently been experiencing some hearing loss? Well, it may be time to consider going to see your audiologist for a hearing test. Unfortunately, many people never attend a hearing test until they begin to experience some form of hearing loss, so many of us do not know what to expect when we attend our first hearing test. So, what do hearing tests do and what happens afterwards?

What Does a Hearing Test Show

A hearing test will provide a measurement of the sensitivity of your hearing and will be able to tell you what kind of hearing loss you are experiencing. There are two types of hearing loss: sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. If you are experiencing sensorineural hearing loss, then your hearing impairment has been caused by damage to the auditory nerve, but if your hearing loss is conductive, then it is the result of damage to the eardrum itself or the ossicle bone. 

How Does a Hearing Test Work

When you attend your hearing test appointment, you will be placed in a quiet room and be asked to listen to some sounds; this will be done with the aid of earphones. When you have heard a noise, you will usually be asked to signal to the audiologist that you have heard something. These sounds may also be played at different pitches and frequencies, and your ability to hear these sounds will be used to determine whether you are experiencing a loss of hearing. Some hearing tests may even ask you to listen to a person speaking at different volumes, and you may be asked to repeat what was said. The test will be carried out in a soundproof room so that no outside sounds disturb your test.

Your Results and What They Mean

Your hearing test results will be presented to you on an audiogram, and this will display the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches. An audiogram looks like a normal graph that contains a line which reflects your hearing test results. An audiogram will show hearing loss through how close the marks are to the bottom of the page, as this means that the person cannot hear the softest sounds. The closer the line is to the top of the page, the better your hearing is. Your audiogram will show your type of hearing loss and will be able to tell you how much your hearing has deteriorated. 

What Happens After You Get Your Results

After you receive your results, your audiologist will decide on a mode of treatment for you. This tends to be in the form of a hearing aid, or you may be recommended a hearing implant. A hearing aid is a small device that you wear on or behind your ear and which helps make your hearing clearer. 

Many people worry that a hearing aids will stick out, but modern technology means that hearing aids can be very discreet. Hearing implants are advised for those who do not notice an improvement with hearing aids and this is inserted inside or outside a person’s skull through an operation. Your audiologist will advise you on what mode of treatment is best for you.