Your First Hearing Test – What to Expect

Now that you have decided to be proactive about your hearing, you are probably wondering what will happen at your first hearing test.

When you make an appointment, you need to set aside at least an hour of your time for your initial test.

Medical history

The first thing you will have to do when visiting your audiology clinic is complete an intake form. You will be asked for personal details and medical history just as you would if you were visiting a doctor or dentist. You may have to answer a set of questions such as how long has your hearing been an issue, is there a family history of hearing loss, what situation do you find it hard to hear, have you had a medical procedure recently?

It’s important to tell your audiologist of the concerns you have and describe the impact hearing difficulties are having on your life. The information you give is essential for your audiologist to determine any underlying health conditions that are affecting your hearing.

Hearing history

Important information to tell your clinician is your hearing history: whether you have worked in loud environments, or you suffer from ringing in your ears, have a history of ear infections or had ear surgery.

Ear canal check

Next step is your ear canal will be inspected with an otoscope which is a hand-held instrument with a light. Your audiologist will get a clearer picture of your ear canal condition, checking for obstructions and problems with your eardrum.

Hearing Test

This is the moment you have been waiting for – a full hearing test to determine the level of your hearing loss. Through a set of headphones in a sound proof room you will be played a series of sounds at different frequencies and volume levels. You will be asked to indicate when you hear the sounds. On the evaluation of these results, next steps can be taken if needed.

You may be required to have a speech test which is a series of words played to ascertain the soft sounds threshold of ordinary conversation you can hear.

You may also need a pressure test (tympanometry) to determine if your ear drum is flexible enough to respond to sound.

If the hearing test needs further inspection you may also have a bone induction test. This is where a band is arranged on your head with a vibrating oscillator placed behind the ear. Pure tone is delivered directly into the cochlea, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This helps determine if there is an issue with the ear canal, or the middle ear, such as the eardrum and bones of the middle ear. Each ear will be tested separately to see if one is worse than the other.

Next Steps

Your hearing test results will be displayed in an audiogram, which graphs the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies. It displays the level of hearing loss you suffer from and will help your clinician gauge the next steps to take that will most benefit you and your needs.

Your audiologist will make informed recommendations on whether you should be referred to an ear nose and throat specialist, or make an appointment for a hearing aid fitting

Take action and get your hearing tested with us at The Hearing Club. Call us on 1800-627-728 or email us on hello@thehearingclub today.