4 Questions to Ask About Hearing Exams

Are you thinking about scheduling a hearing exam? Getting a hearing exam is a sensible choice whether you have noticed a gradual or sudden change to your hearing. This could mean that you are finding it more difficult to hear, or it might be you are hearing things a little differently. Regardless, there are a few questions that you might want to ask about hearing exams before you schedule your first appoint.

How Long Do They Last?

You might want to know how long your hearing exam will take. Typically, a hearing exam lasts between thirty minutes to an hour, so it shouldn’t take up too much of your day. If you’re planning to get the test during work hours, it’s a good idea to set aside about an hour. This way, you’ll have enough time for the exam and to discuss the results with your audiologist afterward. Your audiologist will help you to understand the extent of your hearing loss.

What Happens During a Hearing Exam?

During the exam, you will be asked to wear a pair of headphones and the rest of the sounds in the room will be blocked out. You will then need to tell your audiologist when you can hear a particular sound playing. This is usually going to be a beep or a buzzing noise. As mentioned, this process will last about half an hour with the headphones playing different noises for you. Once this stage is complete, you may also need to provide a complete medical history. This will reveal whether there are any genetic causes which could be impacting your hearing.

What Will You Find Out?

When you get a hearing test, you’ll find out how well you can hear different sounds and pitches. The test measures your hearing ability in each ear separately. It will show if you have any hearing loss and how severe it might be. You’ll also learn which frequencies you might have trouble hearing. After the test, the audiologist will explain the results to you. They can also recommend ways to improve your hearing if needed.

What’s the Next Step?

Once you get the results of your hearing test, your audiologist will explain what this mean for your hearing. If the test shows that you have some hearing loss, they will let you know how if it is mild or profound. They might suggest wearing hearing aids, like in the ear, behind the ear and in the canal. In some cases, they may recommend other treatments like therapies or ways to improve your communication. An audiologist will help you choose the best option for your needs and show you how to wear and take care of any devices you decide to get.

An audiologist can help you to understand some what happens during a hearing test, and what to expect. Your audiologist will be able to answer any questions or concerns you have about hearing tests. If you want to learn more about what to expect during an exam, schedule an appointment with an audiologist.