If you’re getting ready for your first hearing test, you’re already on the right path towards understanding and addressing your hearing health. However, it could be that you’re nervous about the test and you’re not sure what to expect. The key to a successful hearing test is about being well-prepared and having all the information you could need when it comes to what’s going to happen and what it all means. With that in mind, read on to find out more about how to prepare for your first hearing test so you can take this important step.

The Hearing Test Process

During your first hearing test, you’ll have a range of different processes to go through, and your expert audiologist will guide you through each step. Here are some of the tests that can help them determine your level of hearing loss, so they can then give you the right treatment.

Your History

Before anything else is done, an audiologist will want to talk about your medical history and lifestyle so they can see if there’s anything that stands out as being the cause of hearing loss. This can give them a good head start when it comes to deciding on the right form of treatment. They’ll ask about your job and if you work in a noisy environment, your hobbies and your family history to see if it is a genetic condition. Once the audiologist has all the answers they need, they’ll be able to create the ideal treatment plan and discuss the use of hearing aids, if necessary.

Physical Exam

In some cases, a physical exam of your ears might be needed just to make sure there aren’t any blockages or problems that could be causing the hearing loss – it could be something simple that can be fixed quickly without the need for the rest of the test to be carried out.

Audiometric Testing

If there aren’t any obvious signs of blockages or infections, the next step in the hearing test is usually audiometric testing. You’ll be asked to wear headphones and listen to various tones or spoken words played at different volumes and frequencies. When you hear a sound, you’ll need to press a button or perhaps raise your hand, and the audiologist will be able to see what your hearing loss level is.

The great thing about audiometric testing is that it’s completely painless and doesn’t involve any kind of invasive procedure, but it still gives the experts exactly the information they need to build a treatment plan for your hearing health.

Tympanometry

Another test that your audiologist will usually want to carry out is tympanometry, which is essentially looking at the way your eardrum moves, as well as the condition of the middle ear. Unlike the test above, tympanometry is minimally invasive because the audiologist will need to insert a small probe into your ear canal, which measures changes in air pressure.

Results And Recommendations

Once all the elements of the hearing test have been completed, your audiologist will take a good look at the results to work out a diagnosis. Once they’ve got the full picture, they’ll take the time to talk things through about the severity of your hearing loss and they type of hearing loss that you have.

Once you’re clear on the diagnosis, it’s time to talk about treatment, and, thanks to many years of experience, your audiologist will be able to go through the best options for you, which could include wearing a hearing aid. The different types of hearing aids they may recommend are:

Behind the ear (BTE)
In the ear (ITE)
In the canal (ITC)
Completely in canal (CIC)
Invisible in canal (IIC)

Contact Us Today!

Now you know what a hearing test involves, is it time you scheduled one for yourself? If so, get in touch with Clifton Springs Hearing Center today at 315-496-4314. You can make an appointment that suits you and take action when it comes to improving your hearing with experts to help you along the way.