What to Expect at a Hearing Test

What to Expect at a Hearing Test

If you think you might have hearing loss contact us for a hearing evaluation. During a hearing exam, the specialist will assess your hearing to determine the cause and severity of your impairment. Here's what you can expect during a typical exam.

During The Exam

Your hearing exam will include several different tests. The first test is generally a case history, during which our Hearing Specialist will ask questions about your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you're taking. They will also ask about your work environment and whether you've been exposed to loud noise on a regular basis.


The second part of the exam is a physical examination of your ear. The specialist will look for any visible signs of damage or infection and check for blockages such as wax buildup. They will also use a lighted instrument called an otoscope to look inside your ear for problems with the eardrum or middle ear bones.

The third and final part of the exam is a series of hearing tests. During these tests, you'll be asked to respond when you hear sounds of various pitches and volumes played through headphones. The two main diagnostics are speech testing, to determine how successfully various hearing aids might serve you, and air & bone conduction testing, to determine if your hearing loss is caused by deterioration of the auditory nerves. These tests help the hearing specialist determine the nature and extent of your hearing loss.

After the Exam

Once the exam is finished, the specialist will review the results with you and explain what they mean. If they suspect that you have a medical condition that's causing your hearing loss, you may be referred to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor for further testing. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to correct the problem.



If your hearing loss is caused by exposure to loud noise, you may be advised to wear hearing protection when working or participating in activities that expose you to loud noise. You may also be fitted for hearing aids to improve your ability to hear in day-to-day situations.

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