What You Need To Know About Hearing Tests
Posted on: 24 February 2020
Hearing tests, also known as audiometric tests, are used to determine whether your ears are working properly. Hearing loss usually comes with age and is usually high among adults who are 65 years and older. However, experts recommend that adults should go for hearing tests at least every ten years. Here is what you can expect in a hearing test.
Consultation
The first thing when you are scheduled for a hearing test is a consultation. Your audiologist will try to determine what concerns you have with your hearing and any persistent symptoms you are experiencing as well as your medical history. Your audiologist will also perform a visual examination of your ears using an instrument called an otoscope. This will help your audiologist determine whether your hearing loss is caused by an issue with your ear canal or eardrum, or due to excess buildup of earwax. After that, your doctor will perform a series of hearing tests to determine the variety of sounds you are able to hear.
Types of Hearing Tests
Auditory Brainstem Response Test: This test is also called the brainstem auditory evoked potential. It is used to detect hearing loss caused by inner ear problems. During this test, the doctor will place electrodes on your earlobes and scalp. You will also be required to wear earphones. The doctor will send noises through these earphones to monitor how your brain is responding to sounds.
Pure Tone Audiometry: This test is used to determine the balance and severity of your hearing loss. The doctor will ask you to respond to sounds with different volumes and pitches as they are played into your ears through earphones. You will be required to respond to the sounds so the doctor may determine your problem. This test may be performed combined with a bone conduction test.
Bone Conduction Test: This test helps an audiologist determine which part of the ear is the cause of your problem. A tuning fork is placed behind your ear, and it emits a sound that skips the outer and middle ear to test how the inner ear is responding. The doctor is able to tell the problem based on how you experience each sound.
If you suspect hearing irregularities, you better schedule an appointment for a hearing test. While hearing loss is often related to age, it may be due to numerous other factors such as an ear infection, being around loud noise, and so on. Hearing tests are not painful, and by looking at the above examples, they are only used to test the functionality of your ears.
Contact a clinic with hearing test services for more information.
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