What Will Your Hearing Test Tell You?

Feeling a bit uncertain about your hearing test is natural, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. It’s important to feel comfortable during this appointment, as hearing health plays a significant role in overall well-being. As individuals age, the chances of experiencing age-related hearing changes increase, making routine tests a helpful tool. Regular hearing checks can catch any issues early, not only addressing age-related hearing loss but also identifying other potential concerns. So, what happens during a hearing test? And what insights can it give about your hearing health?

Understanding the Basics of a Hearing Test

Just as you would schedule regular check-ups with the dentist or optometrist, it’s also a good idea to make hearing tests a routine part of your healthcare. Carried out by a hearing health professional, these tests measure how well you can hear a range of sounds, from soft whispers to louder tones. The goal isn’t only to detect hearing loss but to understand your overall hearing abilities and identify any areas where certain sounds may be harder to catch.

What Does the Test Involve?

You’ll be wearing some headphones in a sound-controlled booth, and the following tests will be performed:

• Pure-tone audiometry: A test that plays sounds at different pitches to find your hearing’s volume threshold.
• Speech recognition: Not only hearing but understanding what you hear. You’ll listen to spoken words at various volumes to see how well you can make them out.
• Tympanometry: This is a test to determine the health of your eardrum. They will put the probe into your ear. It fits to make a tight seal in your ear canal. Then, the probe gently pushes air into your ear and makes a soft, low sound.

Each test tunes into a different aspect of your hearing, giving your hearing care provider a well-rounded view of what’s going on.

Results and Interpretations

After completing a hearing test, your hearing health professional will review the results with you to explain what they mean. These results will show how well you hear different pitches and volumes and may indicate whether you have any hearing loss. They will interpret these findings in a way that’s easy to understand, helping you see how your hearing compares to normal levels. If any issues are detected, they’ll discuss possible next steps, like treatment options or lifestyle changes to protect your hearing.

Finding the Right Treatment

If the tests indicate that you have hearing loss, your hearing health professional will recommend hearing aids as a form of treatment for you. Today’s hearing aids are much more advanced than older models and are designed to be discreet and effective and have several features available. On the other hand, if the cause of your hearing loss is something simple, like a wax buildup, your hearing health professional can remove the excess earwax.

If you have noticed any changes in your hearing, schedule an appointment with a hearing health professional. They can answer any questions you may have and find the right treatment for you.