Have you had a hearing evaluation recently? The hearing evaluation usually confirms or rules out if you have a hearing impairment. A hearing evaluation is the initial step to finding a solution for lifestyle challenges due to a hearing loss. This article explains the most common tests performed at a hearing evaluation and what to expect on test day.
- Pure-tone Audiometry : Hearing sensitivity or loss is quantified by using pure tones controlled by a dual-channel clinical audiometer and presented through earphones and a bone vibrator. Narrow-band masking noise is used when appropriate.
- Speech Audiometry : Awareness of speech sensitivity, auditory discrimination of speech sounds, and hearing adequacy for everyday speech are evaluated with speech delivered through earphones and loudspeakers. Phonetically balanced work lists are presented to the patient via the clinical audiometer by monitored live voice or taped recordings.
- Impedance Audiometry : The middle ear and the acoustic reflex are assessed with a clinical electroacoustic bridge, which can activate the acoustic reflex with either contralateral or ipsilateral test tones. Eardrum mobility and middle ear pressure are evaluated ipsilaterally with tympanometry.
The Testing Experience
At your first appointment, your Hearing Healthcare Professional will begin by discussing your hearing health and history of the listening environments you have been exposed to and any diseases or injuries you may have experienced. At this time please tell your Hearing Healthcare Professional about any problems you are having with your ears and hearing difficulties.
Following this brief case history, you will be seated in a soundproof booth. A series of tones of different pitches will be presented to you and you will be asked to respond when you hear a tone. The softest level at which you are able to hear each individual pitch will be plotted on a chart (audiogram). Each ear will be tested separately, since the amount of hearing loss can be different in each ear.
After your hearing loss has been plotted, you will then be asked to repeat a list of words, which helps to better identify your speech understanding abilities. Once the hearing test is completed, the Hearing Healthcare Professional will explain the results to you and make the appropriate recommendations based on your hearing loss.
If you elect to proceed with hearing aid use, the hearing healthcare professional will fit you with the appropriate instrument (s). The hearing aid is then fitted/delivered to the patient one to two weeks following the initial visit. The first step in the Fitting & Orientation process is to verify the fitting. Verification of the hearing instrument prescription is essential to ensure that the hearing aid is fitting the patient's ear properly. The next step of the Fitting and Orientation process is to instruct the patient on instrument use and care. If the patient is aware of what to expect, he/she will be more likely to have a positive experience.
