What Happens During a Hearing Test?

For most people, having a hearing test can bring about a number of questions. You probably haven’t had one since childhood and you might be concerned about what to expect.

The good news is – there is nothing to be worried about. An audiologist is well-versed in hearing tests and they’re very straightforward evaluations. So, if you’ve been experiencing hearing loss and have been booked in for a test, then here’s what’s likely to happen:

Questions about your lifestyle and health

Your appointment will begin with a few basic questions about your lifestyle and general health history. This is merely to give the audiologist an idea as to what might be causing your hearing problems. For example, if you reveal that you work in a very noisy environment – or used to for many years – then this is valuable information for them. Different health issues you may have could also prove valuable, so try and remember as much as possible.

Tone and pitch test

Next, you move on to the actual testing part of your hearing test. This tends to be split up into two different parts; testing the way you hear tones and pitches and testing your speech recognition. With the tone and pitch test, you’re put in a soundproof room and given headphones to wear. The audiologist will play different tones and pitches at different volumes, asking you if you can hear them.

Speech recognition test

With the speech recognition test, you’ll still remain in a soundproof area and given the same headphones. The difference is that they play live speech for you to hear. The purpose of this is to see how quietly you can hear people talk. It gives a good idea of how your hearing is in everyday situations.

A run through of the results

The great thing about a hearing test is that the results are pretty much instant. Your audiologist will make a note of what happens during the tests and they can present the results to you straight away. Here, they will explain what might be wrong with your hearing and how severe your hearing loss is. Then, they discuss the different treatment options that are available to you.

In most cases, hearing aids are the obvious solution to treat hearing problems. Next, your audiologist will talk about the different hearing aids on offer and which ones may suit you best. If you have any questions about them, then this is a great time to ask. They should explain all the different features and why you may need them, and they tend to show you a few samples as well.

Booking follow-up appointments

Lastly, your hearing test will end with the audiologist booking you in for follow-up appointments. This will often include selecting hearing aids if you haven’t already done so, a hearing aid fitting and evaluations.

Hearing tests are non-invasive and 100 percent safe. Hopefully, this gives you more clarity on what happens during this appointment. If you’ve been experiencing the telltale signs of hearing loss, then we recommend booking a hearing test as soon as possible.