Without the right assistance, treating hearing loss can be a difficult task. An audiologist is one of the most trusted and professional sources of information that you can rely on when seeking treatment, which is why it’s important to seek help if you think that you may be suffering from hearing loss.

Hearing loss can be a gradual process and most people wouldn’t even realize that they have hearing loss unless a close friend or family member points out situations that could indicate the condition. For example, if you’ve recently been turning up the volume on the TV to uncomfortable levels for others, then the only way you would know is if a friend or family member mentions it.

The quickest way to determine if you have hearing loss is to speak to an audiologist. As experts in the field, an audiologist can quickly determine if you have hearing loss and your level of hearing loss using a series of different tests that will measure your current level of hearing. There can be a variety of tests that are used in different situations and in this article, we’re going to explain what those tests are.

Pure-tone testing

One of the first types of test that your audiologist will perform is pure tone audiometry. This uses air conduction in order to measure how well you can hear sounds at various frequencies and volumes. You will typically wear a pair of headphones and sit in a room or booth which is designed specifically for the test so that no outside interference can affect your test. Your audiologist will play a series of sounds through your headphones and you’ll be asked to raise your hand or push a button every time you hear something. This is to determine the range of hearing that you currently have and identify which frequencies you have trouble hearing.

Bone conduction testing

Like the pure tone test, this test will help you determine the level of your hearing loss by measuring how your ear responds to certain sounds. A conductor will be placed behind your ear that sends small vibrations through your bones and directly to your ear. Unlike pure tone testing which relies on regular sounds and your perception of sound, bone conduction testing can be far more accurate because it measures how your inner ear reacts and isn’t reliant on your input.

Tympanometry

This can be one of the first tests you take and involves measuring the movement of your eardrum when air pressure is introduced into the ear. This is to check if there is any buildup of fluid or wax in your ear but can also determine if there are any tumors or other obstructions in your ear that could be blocking it and preventing you from hearing correctly. If your audiologist suspects that your hearing loss is being caused by a physical obstruction then this is the test that you will take. Tympanometry can also be a part of a larger series of tests known as middle ear testing which also involves acoustic reflex and static acoustic tests.

Speech testing

This test takes place in a quiet environment and involves your ability to separate speech from background noises. It can also take place in a noisy environment that is controlled by the audiologist. It’s used to measure your speech reception threshold, or SRT, to determine what level of speech you can recognize. Being able to separate speech from background noise is one of the frustrations that you might face with hearing loss, hence the importance of this test.

As you can see, there are a variety of different hearing tests that are performed when you visit your audiologist. They will perform specific tests based on your situation that your audiologist will determine after a brief consultation with you. Although it may seem like you’ll undergo many tests, they are painless and very quick to perform.

Contact Hearing and Balance Centers of West Tennessee

Hearing tests can be quite daunting at first but in reality, they’re very simple and straightforward procedures. Your audiologist will help you ease into the process and it won’t take much of your time to go through each test. It’s a vital step in helping you restore your hearing so it’s recommended that you book an appointment as soon as possible if you suspect you may have hearing loss.

Simply contact us at one of our two phone numbers below to get in touch with one of our friendly representatives and book an appointment with an audiologist.