Does A Hearing Test Hurt? Putting Your Fears To Rest

Maintaining your health and overall well-being is a critical element to enjoying a higher quality of living. However, many people place their hearing health secondary to other concerns until it begins to create problems. Better hearing health starts with identifying and seeking the best solution for hearing loss. Misunderstandings about hearing assessments and intimidation sometimes prevent people from scheduling an appointment. We want to help set your mind at ease by describing the procedures we follow, ensuring that a hearing test doesn't hurt. 

We Begin With A Friendly Conversation

Not only do we like to get to know our patients better, but we gather a lot of helpful information by beginning our hearing assessments with a friendly conversation. Our conversation allows us to understand what you do for a living, the activities you enjoy, and the lifestyle you lead.  A discussion of your family and medical history also helps us identify factors contributing to hearing loss. Most of all, our conversation allows you to express your concerns, ask questions, and outline the goals and objectives you hope to accomplish through hearing care.

Physical Examination

Obstructions in the ear canal or damage of the eardrum are among the most common issues associated with hearing loss. A bug lodged in your ear canal, earwax buildup, a growth or tumor, and inflammation from an infection are all potential obstructions that can be identified and dealt with to restore better hearing. An obstruction will also alter the outcome of your hearing assessment, so our next step is to make a physical examination of your ears using an otoscope (a tapered magnifying glass with a light on the tip) to examine your ear canal and eardrum.

Diagnostic Testing

Once our physical examination of your ears is complete, the next step in the process requires fitting you with a set of high-tech headphones and seating you in a soundproof booth.  Using an audiometer, your audiologist transmits tones or spoken words at various frequencies and volumes into the headphones. As you hear each word or tone, you will respond according to the audiologist's instructions.  The results of these tests will be recorded on an audiogram for later evaluation and discussion. These tests help diagnose the specific level of your hearing loss and provide the information necessary to program hearing instruments if necessary.

Other Tests

Additional tests typically include Impedance and Otoacoustic emissions. During Impedance, a small probe is placed in your ear canal. This instrument alters the pressure inside your ear canal for a few seconds while a tone is transmitted, and your audiologist evaluates how your eardrum, middle ear bones, hearing nerve, facial nerve, and lower brainstem responds to it.

For the Otoacoustic emissions test, we place a small probe in the ear canal while tones are transmitted to determine how well the outer hair cells in the inner ear are functioning or whether they are not responding.

With the addition of these tests, your audiologist can identify whether you have conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, or combination conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (i.e., mixed hearing loss).

Reviewing Your Results

Your hearing assessment ends with another friendly conversation. During this conversation, your audiologist will discuss the various tests' results and explain what each outcome means. If a hearing instrument or treatment of some type is necessary to restore hearing, we will discuss it with you. Because we consider your hearing care a partnership, we welcome your input, questions, and concerns. When your hearing tests normal, we discuss options to help you prevent damage and maintain better auditory health.

Pacific Hearing Inc. Conducts Comprehensive Hearing Assessments

If you hope to maintain an active, rewarding, and independent lifestyle, hearing care must be among your healthcare priorities. The starting point toward better hearing care begins with a hearing assessment.  The Pacific Hearing team provides comprehensive hearing assessments. We have the expertise and equipment necessary to identify hearing loss and prescribe the treatment best suited to your lifestyle and personal preferences.  If you or someone you love is experiencing hearing loss or wants to take a proactive approach to hearing care, contact us with your questions, or schedule an assessment.