Hearing Tests

When you arrive for your hearing test, our front office staff will welcome you and ask you to fill out several forms, including those with your personal information and medical history. For your convenience, we are happy to send you an email link or mail these to you prior to your appointment if you prefer.  During the exam, we'll review key personal information with you and may ask you some questions to learn about the types of environments where you might be having hearing loss or ear-related symptoms. We will also check your ears with an otoscope to look at your ear canal and eardrum, and will perform one of the following tests: 

Audiometric Tests

This hearing test includes playing a series of low, mid and high frequency tones to determine your ability to understand speech from a short distance. We'll also ask you to repeat some words. The results will help us figure out if a hearing loss is present, the degree and type of your hearing loss, the likely cause of the hearing loss, your ability to understand speech in quiet and in noise, and if hearing aids will be beneficial. 

Tymponometry

Tympanometry measures the condition of the middle ear and the mobility of the eardrum and the bones behind the eardrum by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal. 

OAEs

Otoacoustic emission testing (OAEs) is an objective test that determines if there is damage to the outer hair cells in the hearing organ (cochlea).  The results of this test determine if there is evidence of hearing loss in one or both ears without the patient having to respond.. 

These hearing tests help us to determine:

• Whether or not there is a hearing loss present
• The possible cause(s) of the hearing loss
• The type and degree of hearing loss
• The best available treatment options
  

After the test is complete, we'll record the results on an audiogram and review it with you. The audiogram will show the type, pattern, and degree of hearing loss, as well as how much of normal conversational speech you can still hear. We'll then discuss the best treatment options for you based on your concerns, your specific lifestyle and your budget. Schedule a hearing test with our licensed professionals and find out how much sound you're missing and how much more you could be hearing.