What are the Most Common Hearing Exams?

Hearing exams are important for understanding the health of your ears and identifying any hearing issues. When you visit an audiologist, they perform a variety of tests to measure how well you hear different sounds and frequencies. These exams help determine the type and severity of any hearing loss, allowing for a clear understanding of your hearing health. The tests are simple and provide valuable information to guide the best treatment options for your needs.

Pure-Tone Testing

Pure-tone testing is one of the most common hearing tests used by audiologists to assess your hearing. During this test, you’ll wear headphones, and different pitches or tones of sound will be played through them. The sounds will vary in volume and pitch, and you’ll be asked to signal whenever you can hear a sound, usually by raising your hand or pressing a button. An audiologist records the quietest sound you can hear at each pitch, which helps them understand the range of sounds you can detect. This test helps determine the degree of hearing loss and whether it affects specific frequencies. It’s a simple and effective way to get a clear picture of your hearing ability.

Speech Testing

Speech testing is a common hearing exam that helps assess how well you can hear and understand speech. During this test, you’ll be asked to listen to words or sentences at different volumes and repeat them back. Your audiologist may play these sounds through headphones or speakers, testing your ability to hear speech clearly at various levels. This test is important because it helps determine how well you can understand spoken words in different environments, like quiet rooms or places with background noise. The results from speech testing give your audiologist valuable insight into your hearing abilities and help guide the best treatment options for you.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test used to assess the movement of your eardrum and check for any problems in the middle ear. The test helps identify issues like fluid buildup, ear infections, or problems with the small bones inside the ear. During this hearing test, a small probe is placed in your ear and it changes the air pressure. This causes your eardrum to move, and the device measures how it reacts to the changes. It’s a simple and quick test that gives your audiologist valuable information about the health of your ear and helps guide further treatment if necessary.

Which Test Is Right for Me?

Choosing the right hearing test depends on your symptoms and concerns. If you’re having trouble hearing clearly or notice that sounds are muffled, your audiologist will likely start with a pure tone audiometry, to check for any hearing loss. If you’re experiencing balance issues or ear pressure, your audiologist may recommend a tympanometry test to look for problems in the middle ear. Each test helps the audiologist understand what might be causing your symptoms and determines the best way to address them. Your audiologist will work with you to decide which tests are most appropriate based on your specific needs.

If you have signs of hearing loss, it might be time to schedule a hearing test. Your audiologist will be able to conduct different tests to assess your hearing and use the results to find the right treatment for your specific needs.