Hearing Tests

Do you have trouble following conversations on the phone or at busy restaurants? Is your family always complaining about how loud the television is when you're watching? You may have hearing loss. Because hearing loss is generally gradual, many people are unaware that they have it until it is too late. Don't put it off any longer if you think you might have a hearing problem - see us for a hearing test! Most Americans attend the dentist and optometrist regularly, yet they often forget about visiting their hearing professional. Studies have shown that maintaining ear health is as vital as keeping on top of your eye health.

Here are the various steps involved in a hearing test with us.

Step #1: A Medical Consultation

We'll begin by asking you questions about your hearing health so that we can learn more about you and your medical history. We might inquire about what you hear and don't hear, as well as whether you've ever worked in a noisy setting. Because there are various causes of hearing loss, we will need to ask some background questions to figure out what type of hearing loss you have.

Various medical problems and injuries can cause hearing loss, so you'll be asked a few questions about your medical history to get a complete picture of your overall health. We'll also talk about your lifestyle and how your hearing loss affects you so that they can get a sense of what's important to you and what treatment options would be a good fit for you.

Step #2: A Physical Ear Examination

We'll do a quick ear exam and check your ears with an otoscope as part of your hearing test. We'll examine your ears for earwax buildup, blockages, swelling, infection, and other signs of injury or disease that may be affecting your hearing.

Step #3: The Hearing Tests

Now it's time for the tests themselves. They take place in a quiet room to ensure that no extraneous noises interfere with your hearing test findings. You will first be required to put on headphones and listen to various sounds. These are of varying pitches and loudness to assess your hearing range. All you have to do is point to a sound every time you hear it. The next test assesses your ability to understand speech. You will listen to spoken words and be asked to repeat the words you hear. We may undertake other tests if we think it is necessary. Each test we perform is painless and non-invasive. 

Step #4: Analyzing Your Test Results

Your hearing test results are displayed on an audiogram, a graph that depicts the quietest sounds you can hear at each frequency. Each ear is plotted separately, allowing you to examine how your ears react to sounds of various pitches. If you have a hearing loss, your audiogram will show you the severity and configuration of your hearing loss.

Make an appointment for a baseline hearing test so you can track your hearing loss and catch it early. The sooner you receive treatment, the easier it will be to achieve success with hearing treatment.