Hearing Tests: What to Expect
Pre-Evaluation: Learning More About You
Our team of experts start by having a friendly conversation about you: your hearing difficulties, medical history, lifestyle, hobbies, and environments you frequent. By learning more about you, we can create a personal and specialized treatment plan to optimize your specific preferences and needs.
Evaluation: Assessing Your Hearing Capabilities
Our comprehensive hearing evaluation consists of a series of tests that will asses various aspects of your hearing.
Otoscopic Examination
Our providers will take a look in your ear with a handheld instrument that can help detect earwax buildup, potential infections, foreign objects, and the overall health of the ear canal and eardrum.
Tympanometry
This test measures the movement of your eardrum in response to changes in air pressure.
Pure Tone Audiometry
For this test the audiologist will fit you with a set of ear inserts or headphones. You will hear tones at various pitches and volume levels to determine the softest level a person can hear. The audiologist will be able to determine the type and degree of hearing loss with the information obtained from this test.
Speech Audiometry
A speech reception threshold and word recognition test will both be performed. These tests measure the softest level at which a person can hear and repeat back words and how well a person can understand speech when it is presented at a comfortable volume. These tests are essential when discussing appropriate methods of treatment.
Post-Evaluation: Explaining your Results & Discussing Treatment Options
The audiologist will discuss your results in detail, ensuring you understand your specific hearing condition and know what your hearing needs most. Our team will offer recommendations and answer any questions you have. For those with hearing loss, a hearing aid evaluation will be performed. Our hearing professionals will explain the different styles, manufacturers, and technology levels of modern day hearing aids that are most appropriate for you.
The final decision on which hearing aids you would like to invest in is ultimately up to you.