What to Expect from Your First Hearing Test

A hearing test is not something you will want to put off if you think there may be a problem. Even if you do not, you should want to have your ears tested by your doctor at least annually. The simple screenings done in a doctor's office can provide basic information about your current condition. However, for a more thorough understanding of what could be occurring, most doctors recommend that you seek out additional screenings from a specialist, especially if you have any signs of loss or have a high risk for developing it.

What Will Happen

When you have your initial hearing test, the process will take just a matter of minutes to complete. During it, you will work with a specialist who has a variety of types of equipment to use on you. The good news is that this type of testing does not require you to do much. In fact, you just have to use your ears to hear anything at all. Most of the time, there are three stages to the process, including the following.

• You will first have a physical examination of the ears and the ear canal, the small tube that travels from the opening of the ear into the interior portion. Here, the doctor is looking for any signs of trauma or infection, which could be interfering with your ability to hear well.

• The second step in the process is one that involves gathering more information about how well you can hear specific tones as well as the level of sound you can process. For this process, you will be asked to respond whenever you hear a specific type of sound. This is often done in a quiet room with headphones.

• The third step may involve a questionnaire that allows you to provide information about any situations in which you are struggling to hear. In addition, you will be able to engage in conversation with family or loved ones. It is important for the doctor to see how you can carry on a conversation and if there is any struggle in you doing so.

Overall, the goal of any hearing test is to provide your doctor with more information. He or she needs to learn if you have any limitations in your ability to hear. If there is a problem, the next step will be to understand how severe the problem is. In some cases, you may be able to invest in a device that will amplify sounds significantly to make them easier for you to hear. This device can help to improve your quality of life when needed.