What to Expect at Your Hearing Test

If you are scheduled for your first ever hearing test, it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about what will happen during the appointment – the same is true of any kind of medical test. In an effort to alleviate your concerns, below, we’ve detailed exactly what you should expect from your appointment.

Your audiologist will explain the entire process

Your audiologist will start the appointment by outlining what will happen during the appointment; this is also a perfect time to ask any questions you may have.

Your medical history will be assessed

While your appointment will focus primarily on your hearing, your audiologist will need to learn a little more about your medical history before proceeding. In particular, you will be asked questions related to the medication you are currently taking – or have taken in the past – as well as any ear or neck related injuries or illnesses you may have experienced in the past.

Your audiologist will examine your ears

Your audiologist will use a device called an otoscope to examine your ears, looking for signs of infection or earwax buildup. This examination will not take long and should be completely painless, though if you do experience any discomfort, let your audiologist know.

You will undergo your hearing test

There are a number of different types of hearing test, but for your first appointment, you will likely experience pure-tone testing. This test involves listening to sounds through a set of headphones and alerting your audiologist – by pressing a button or raising your hand – when you hear a sound. In some cases, you may also undergo a speech test, which involves listening to spoken words through the headphones; you then repeat the words that you hear clearly.

Both tests should be painless; if you experience any discomfort during your test, then alert your audiologist as soon as possible.

If your audiologist has chosen to administer another type of hearing test, they will walk you through the process so you know exactly what to expect.

Your audiologist will examine the results of your hearing tests

When the tests are complete, your audiologist will examine the results. If all is well, your test will conclude at this point, though your audiologist will likely advise you on an appropriate date for your next test – if you’re over the age of 65, this will usually be in around a year’s time.

If hearing loss has been detected, your audiologist will explain this to you, along with their recommendations as to the next steps – which will usually be looking into options for hearing aids. You may also have the opportunity to look at hearing aids during this visit, but this depends on the audiologist and the length of time that has been set aside for the appointment. Finally, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and your audiologist will recommend a date for future hearing tests if applicable.

Hopefully, the above information has helped to ensure you will be able to attend your first hearing test with the confidence to know exactly what to expect.