What is a hearing evaluation?
A hearing evaluation, or audiometry exam, is a series of tests that measures your ability to hear sound at different pitches (frequency of sound waves) and loudness (intensity of a sound). You may need a hearing evaluation if you’re having hearing loss symptoms. Or you may have a hearing screening as part of a routine exam, even if you don’t have hearing problems. Audiologists (health-care providers specializing in hearing, ear, and balance disorders) perform hearing evaluations.
The Audiology, Hearing, and Balance program at Penn Medicine offers comprehensive hearing evaluations using the latest diagnostic techniques and tools. A skilled team of audiologists, otologists, and neuro-otologists works together to give you the answers and treatments you need, tailored to your lifestyle and budget.
Types of hearing evaluations
Audiological assessments help us determine what type of hearing loss you have, its cause, and whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe. An experienced team selects the right hearing tests for your needs.
Pure-tone testing is the most common type of hearing test. It evaluates how well you hear sound at different pitches. During the test, you wear earphones and listen to sounds transmitted by a machine called an audiometer. A variation of this evaluation called a bone conduction test uses a tool called a bone oscillator to send vibrations directly to your inner ear.
A speech test checks your ability to hear and repeat spoken words at different volume levels, with and without background noise. This test measures your speech reception threshold (SRT), the lowest level at which you can hear and understand speech.
Acoustic immittance audiometry is a series of tests that looks for problems in your middle ear and eardrum (membrane that separates your middle ear and outer ear). An audiologist inserts probes into your ear for the following tests:
- Tympanometry: evaluates how your eardrum responds to changes in air pressure while you listen to sounds
- Acoustic reflex testing: measures how a muscle in your middle ear contracts in response to loud sounds; this reflex protects your inner ear from damage
- Acoustic reflex decay: records how long your middle ear can maintain its reflex contraction
An OAE test measures how well your inner ear works. We put a tiny microphone in your ear to check how the hair cells respond to sounds. Hair cells are vital to hearing and balance. They convert sound waves into electrical signals and send them to the brain.
An ABR test uses electrodes to record how electrical signals travel along your auditory neural pathway from your inner ear to your brain. It’s typically for children or adults who can’t have standard hearing tests.
Who needs a hearing evaluation?
Talk to your healthcare provider about a hearing test if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty hearing or understanding with background noise
- Hearing loss in one ear
- Need people to repeat themselves or speak louder
- Sensation of clogged ears
- Sounds seem muffled or unclear
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Trouble talking or hearing on the phone
What to expect from an audiometry test
Hearing tests usually take place in a soundproof room. During the tests, you hear various sounds and words at different pitches and volumes. You wear headphones for most tests. For other tests, we may insert small probes into your ears or attach electrodes to your head.
Depending on the tests you need, the process may take 20 minutes to one hour. Some people may notice a slight ringing in their ears after the evaluation, but this is temporary. Your test results will be visible on a chart called an audiogram. Your audiologist will review your results with you, explain the cause and severity of your hearing loss, and discuss treatment options.
Preparing for a hearing evaluation
You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for a hearing evaluation. At your appointment, be sure to tell the audiologist or audiology technician about your symptoms and hearing history. You should also report any other issues you may be experiencing, such as dizziness, headaches, or balance problems.
A better-sounding life starts at Penn Medicine
Hearing loss can have a major impact on your quality of life. It affects how you interact with others and the world around you. Hearing loss can take many forms and affects everyone differently. That’s why we take an individualized approach to hearing loss evaluation and treatment. Our experts draw on a wide range of medical and surgical therapies, including the latest hearing aids and cochlear implants from industry-leading manufacturers.
Hearing device evaluations at Penn Medicine provide comprehensive assessments and guide you through the process of hearing aid selection, fitting, and maintenance. In addition, the Center for Adult-Onset Hearing Loss is dedicated to genetic testing and treatment for older adults with hereditary hearing loss.
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