A hearing test or appointment with an audiologist is not just a simple beep test; there is a lot more to a hearing test than that!
Visual Inspection of the Ear Canal
The audiologist will use an otoscope to look down your ear canal and at your eardrum. They will be able to see if there is any wax build up, redness, any fluid, or any sign of a perforation. Many cases of hearing loss are due to wax build up in the ear, which can be easily cleared by an audiologist.
The Pure-Tone Hearing Test
The Pure-Tone Hearing Test: Pure tone audiometry is one of the most common tests to assess your hearing. The test is simple. Sounds of different frequencies and volumes are played through headphones and you are asked to press a button each time you hear a sound. The results of the test are plotted on a graph called an audiogram. This graph will show you the results of your hearing test and highlight the sounds you can hear, and those that you are unable to hear. More information on NHS hearing tests, including pure-tone audiometry, can be found on the NHS website.
Speech in Noise Testing
For people who have difficulty hearing speech in noise, it is common for them not to notice any problem until it starts to affect them. The test for speech in noise involves listening to words or sentences spoken by an audiologist and at the same time listening to background noise, such as other speech or music. The listener is then asked to repeat what they heard. This test is more sensitive than pure tone audiometry and can reveal deficits in hearing that have not been picked up by the tone test.
Middle-Ear Pressure Check
Tympanometry is a test of the middle ear by using a small probe which is placed in the ear canal. The probe briefly seals the ear canal and then changes the air pressure. The test measures how freely the eardrum moves. This can show if there is fluid behind the eardrum or if the Eustachian tube is blocked.
Tinnitus Assessment
Your hearing appointment can include tests to find out the pitch of any tinnitus you have, and how it is affecting you, i.e. how it is affecting your sleep, concentration etc. There are then management options that your audiologist can suggest to help with your tinnitus.
Balance and Dizziness Screening
Assessing balance and dizziness – as the inner ear is also responsible for balance, your hearing appointment in Taunton can also include a number of basic tests to assess your balance and dizziness.
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This also helps when attending the hearing appointment, knowing what each check involves and why it has been included will enable you to arrive prepared knowing what to expect.
