You might be wondering what to expect if you have never had a hearing exam. You don’t have to be concerned, hearing tests are very common and occur every day. They also don’t cause any discomfort or pain. These are the four most important things to know about your hearing test.
1. IT’S ALL ABOUT LISTENING AND TALKING
It is possible to think that your hearing test will be about the audiologist asking for you to hear sounds. This is part of the pure tone test. However, the audiologist will also spend time with you.
Your medical history will be examined, including any head injuries or ear infections. Your current medications and supplements will be discussed with the audiologist. Your lifestyle will be assessed, as well as any outdoor or sports activities. These questions will allow the audiologist to recommend the best model for you if you require hearing aids.
2. A FEW TESTS CAN BE PERFORMED
Most likely, your hearing test will consist of several tests. The first is to check your ears for any blockages or malformations that might prevent you hearing well. Before your exam, you will need to clean your ears.
Your ability to hear different sounds at different levels will be tested by the audiologist. Each ear will then be independently tested. These results will be used to help you determine how well you can hear in different background noise levels. To determine if your middle ears are functioning properly, a tympanometry probe could be used.
3. REVIEW YOUR RESULTS
An audiogram is a long piece of paper that records the results of your hearing tests. Each ear is graphed individually. An audiogram shows how well you can detect different frequencies at different decibel levels. The audiogram will be reviewed by an audiologist who will explain the meaning of the results. You may be missing some frequencies, but don’t be surprised. This is a common occurrence as we age.
4. DISCUSSION: HEARING AIDS
The audiologist will talk with you about your options for hearing aids if the hearing tests reveal that you have lost some hearing. There are many styles to choose from, with different features. Some models require earmolds, while others don’t. You may be able to try out different models with disposable plugs and other sterile methods by your audiologist.
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