Hearing testing is a painless procedure carried out in a sound treated room and requires the patient to wear a  set of headphones.  The patient will be able to see the audiologist who is administering the tests and will have voice contact through a microphone. 

The test requires that the patient respond when hearing sounds of different pitches and intensities.  In some tests, the patient may be asked to repeat words that are heard. 

In addition, the audiologist may test the function of the patient’s middle ear and eustachian tube by changing the air pressure in the external ear canal.  This test is called tympanometry.

Procedures to test very young children vary according to the age, cooperation and ability of each child. 

What to do when a hearing loss is suspected? 

Some hearing losses are medically treatable, so it is important to visit a physician as well as an audiologist when a hearing loss is suspected.  We have both physicians who have specialized in the ear, nose and throat and licensed audiologist in our office to assist you with your hearing healthcare needs.  It is important that your hearing test is performed by a licensed audiologist rather than a hearing aid dealer who does not require all of the formal training of an audiologist. 

What your test results mean:

After the test is performed, the audiologist will discuss with you your degree of hearing loss, whether it is conductive or sensorineural and what the best course of action is to assist you in your hearing needs.

·         Conductive Hearing Loss

A conductive hearing loss occurs when the hearing loss is due to a complication in the outer or middle ear that is often times medically treatable.  It may be as simple as earwax in the ear canal or fluid in the middle ear space, both of which can often times be treated immediately in the office, or it could be a complication where surgery is often times the best course of action. 

·         Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the origin of the hearing loss is in the inner ear, either the cochlea or the auditory nerve.  Several causes of sensorineural hearing losses are the normal aging process, excessive noise exposureoften as a result of the aging process and/or noise exposure. Sounds may be unclear and/or too soft. Sensitivity to loud sounds may occur. Medical or surgical intervention cannot correct most sensorineural hearing losses. However, hearing aids may help you reclaim some sounds that you are missing as a result of nerve deafness.

Hearing Aids are often times the most appropriate course of action for hearing loss.