If you have noticed an issue with your hearing, you might have booked an appointment for hearing tests with your audiologist. Hearing tests are the best way to determine whether there is an issue with your hearing that needs to be addressed. Signs that you need a hearing test can vary but if you are struggling to hear people talking or the volume of the TV, it might be best to get checked out. You should also get a hearing test if you are experiencing signs of tinnitus. Here’s what you can expect when you get a hearing test.

1. Answering questions

You might be surprised to hear that the first part of a hearing test won’t be practical or hands on. Instead, you should expect to spend the first part answering forms and the audiologist may not even be present for this stage. These forms will include everything from questions on when your hearing issues started to insurance coverage. It’s important that the audiologist has all the information they need before they start looking at your ears. You will also be asked about medical history and any medicine that you might be on.

Be aware, it is common for issues with hearing to be caused by certain medication. By changing your medication you might find that the issue goes away completely. It’s also possible that the hearing trouble is a sign of a more serious medical condition. That’s why a medical history is often important before you get your ears checked out. You will also be asked whether the issue is impacting your life and how much it is affecting you.

2. Checking out your ears

Before the audiologist tests your hearing, they will look at your ears, inside and out. They’ll use an otoscope to do this and will be checking for any physical causes of your hearing issues. Physical causes can include a build up of ear wax or even an abnormal growth in your ear. An audiologist will be able to see signs of this before completing any hearing tests. The good news is that if there is a physical cause, it’s likely that the issue can be corrected. For instance, tinnitus can be caused by little movements in the muscles that make up the ear. Once this is corrected the symptoms immediately vanish.

3. The final test

The hearing test itself can vary but will typically include a number of different hearing tests to check this sense. So, you might be tested on your ability to hear tones. Or, you could be asked whether you can hear certain spoken words to test your ability to hear speech. It’s also possible that a pressure test is conducted to check with your eardrum is working properly. A hearing test is not as intrusive as most people think. However, usually, a tiny mic will be inserted into your ear canal to check how your ear responds to different volumes of noise.

This should shed some light on what you can expect when you visit an audiologist for hearing tests.