Adult Hearing Test

Comprehensive Hearing Assessment

Don't always assume that you have a severe ailment when a medical practitioner recommends a hearing test. 

This basic medical test is part of a Doctor's routine check, especially for people over the age of 50.

Hearing loss is an unfortunate reality for a large percentage of individuals; therefore, an adult hearing test should not be alarming. Every person is advised to have a hearing test every ten years, and if you're 50 years or older, it should be done every two years.

So whether you're just doing a routine health check or you have evident hearing issues, a comprehensive test will provide all the answers you need.  

Reasons for a hearing test

If you find yourself in any of the following situations, it is advisable to get a hearing assessment:

• Always asking others to speak up or repeat during conversations

• Requiring the TV or radio volume to be louder than others find comfortable 

• Difficulty hearing with moderate background noise

• Working in a noisy environment such as factory, construction, mills, music, etc

• Sudden loss of hearing volume

• Onset of Tinnitus causing you disturbance

• Hereditary cases of hear loss

If you fail to address obvious symptoms of hearing impairment, it may lead to more severe consequences. People with untreated hearing loss often feel out of place and avoid social gatherings.

Getting a hearing test is nothing to be embarrassed about; it is a bold step toward good auditory health.

Find out what to expect when you decide to get tested for hearing loss.

Health History

When you visit a hearing clinic for the first time, you will be issued a case history form. This procedure requires you to divulge any information that will help the audiologist understand your hearing and medical history. This background check plays a significant role in the diagnosis procedures.

Some of the questions you may be asked include:

• Are there any cases of hearing loss in your family?

• Do you have allergies?

• Do you often experience ear infections?

• Have you suffered any hearing damage before?

• Are you exposed to loud noises on a regular basis?

• Are you receiving any medical treatment?

These are just a few examples of questions that will give the audiologist a clearer picture of your past and present medical and hearing state.  

After the history assessment, you are likely to be asked if you experience any evident symptoms of hearing loss in your daily life. A physical ear examination will follow this.

The Physical Exam

The audiologist has to examine your ears using a handheld otoscope. Peering into the ear canal with the otoscope will reveal any visible damage, excessive ear wax or deformities that may be causing auditory problems.

A physical exam helps the audiologist isolate hearing issues in the middle or outer ear, which can be resolved with treatment.   

The Listening Test

It's important to point out that hearing tests are totally painless, and the procedures are non-invasive. The examination is typically done in a sound-proof booth that keeps out any noise from the surrounding areas.

The quiet test area ensures that the hearing test results are not affected by external noise.

You will wear headphones that are connected to a device known as an audiometer. After that, you will undergo several thorough tests.

Pure Tone Test

The most common hearing exam is the pure tone test. This procedure is designed to identify the frequencies and noise levels that your hearing can decipher.

While in a sound-proof booth, a number of tonal sounds play at various decibels (levels). You will then be asked to distinguish every sound by pushing a button. All your reactions are logged, and your hearing pattern is recorded in a specialised chart known as an audiogram.

Speech Test

The speech test is sometimes called speech audiometry. This component of the hearing test uses live or recorded speech sounds rather than pure tones. This part of the exam assesses your ability to distinguish soft speech sounds and repeat what you hear. 

The results will define your ideal listening levels.

Other Hearing Tests

The Audiologist will undertake several additional tests as required, which include:

Tympanometry

This hearing exam tests your ears' acoustic reflexes. A soft plug is placed in your ear to form different pressure changes and produce sounds. The results will reveal the middle ear reflexive responses and the eardrum movement.  This test also measures if any fluid is behind your eardrum. 

Speech in Noise

This hearing exam is meant to establish your ability to decipher speech content while a noisy soundtrack plays in the background. This is intended to measure your auditory capability in a real-world situation. 

Recreating a noisy setting then measuring the outcome gives more credence to a comprehensive adult hearing test.

Hidden Hearing Loss

A hidden hearing loss test is administered to individuals whose hearing problems originate in the brain rather than the ears. If you pass the previous tests well but still have hearing issues, you may suffer from hidden hearing loss.

Understanding Your Results

As mentioned earlier, the results of all these tests are logged in a graph known as an audiogram. The chart displays all the softest sounds, frequencies and pitches that you can hear. The vertical axis represents the sound volume (decibel), while the horizontal axis highlights the frequency of the sounds.

The results may be somewhat complex for the average person, but you can ask the specialist to break down all the technical details so that you can understand everything nicely. Don't be shy to ask questions if you need more clarity on a specific issue.

Treatment Options

Once all the tests are done, you will have conclusive information to determine if you have hearing loss. Based on the results, the audiologist will decide if you require any treatment or not. Treatment and management may require hearing aids, or referral to a Ear Nose and Throat Specialist for any diagnosis not able to be treated with a hearing device. 

At Totalcare Hearing, we understand that hearing impairment is not the same for everyone and a hearing aid that works for one patient may not necessarily work for another. As such, our highly qualified and experienced audiologists take the time to listen and understand each patient's needs, budget, and lifestyle so that they can prescribe the device that fits their requirements. 

Get a Professional Hearing Test 

Totalcare Hearing has decades of experience treating patients with various levels of hearing loss. Our team of qualified audiologists is trained to offer exceptional service throughout the procedures.Contact us today, and we'll be more than glad to serve you!

 If you would like to get a personalised adult hearing test, Contact us to organise a professional consultation.