When it comes to your hearing, you need to be proactive. Experiencing hearing loss can be really detrimental if you don't address and take care of your hearing loss. Luckily, with a hearing loss test, you can pinpoint what is wrong with your hearing and take steps to address your hearing loss so that you can continue to hear those around you and enjoy your life.
Hearing Tests Are Painless
You don't have anything to fear when it comes to getting a hearing test. A hearing test is a completely non-invasive procedure. It is not going to cause you any pain either. A doctor is going to literally test your hearing; that is it. You will listen to some sounds, but nothing so loud that it would hurt your hearing.
Hearing Tests Are Held In Quiet Rooms
Hearing tests are often held in sound-treated rooms so that other environmental sounds, such as the sounds from the office or from the air conditioner, cannot be heard. This allows for the most accurate test results to be obtained for the hearing test.
Most doctor's offices who specialize in hearing issues will have a quiet room or booth set up just for this purpose. In the room will be some seats to sit on, special speakers, headphones, and an audiometer, which is the instrument used to conduct a hearing test.
Checking Pure Tone Audiometry
The first thing that the doctor will test is the types of pitches and volumes that you can hear with a pure tone audiometry test. During the test, you will be asked to listen as closely as possible and let the doctor know when you hear a sound. The purpose of this test is to see how low you can hear at a variety of different frequencies. This is the first test that will help the doctor get an idea of what type of hearing issues you are facing.
Check Speech Audiometry
Next, the doctor will perform a speech audiometry test. With this test, instead of listening to tones like you did in the other test, you will listen to actual people who are talking. Once again, you will be asked to let them know if you understand what is being said; your comprehension will be tested by being asked to repeat back what is being said. This will allow the tester to make sure that you hear what is being said and that you are accurately hearing what is being said. This will help the doctor further figure out what you can and can't hear.
Check Acoustic Reflexes
Finally, the doctor may run a test that will test your acoustic reflexes. For this test, a small plug will be put in your ear that not only releases sound but creates pressure change. This device will measure the movements in your ear drum.
After your hearing tests, your doctor will use the information to help fit you with a hearing aid that will allow you to hear as you did before. The doctor will also help you take steps to protect your hearing from further hearing loss.
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