Types of Hearing Tests Explained

Understanding and addressing hearing issues can directly support your overall health and well-being. Here are five reasons to test your hearing regularly:

1. Early Detection of Hearing Loss. Many people don’t realize they have hearing loss because it often happens gradually. A hearing test can help detect any loss early, allowing for quicker intervention.
2. Improved Communication. Good hearing is essential for effective communication in daily life. Identifying and treating hearing loss can enhance your ability to interact with others at work, home, or social gatherings, leading to a higher quality of life.
3. Prevent Cognitive Decline. Studies have shown a link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including dementia. Regular hearing tests can help identify hearing issues that, if untreated, may lead to a decline in brain function.
4. Manage Tinnitus and Other Ear Conditions. Hearing tests can help diagnose conditions like tinnitus, which may be related to hearing loss. Early intervention may help manage these symptoms and prevent them from worsening.
5. Protect Against Further Damage. Regular hearing check-ups can help you identify potential causes of hearing damage, such as exposure to loud environments, and encourage you to take preventative measures.

If your initial screening indicates a potential hearing issue, a professional hearing care provider will likely perform comprehensive tests to get a better understanding of your hearing health.

1. Pure Tone Audiometry. During a pure tone audiometry test, you'll wear headphones in a soundproof booth and listen to a series of tones at various frequencies and volumes. The goal is to pinpoint the quietest sound you can hear at each frequency. The provider will chart your hearing test results on a graph, called an audiogram, a visual representation of your hearing loss. This helps specialists understand which frequencies you are missing and assists in diagnosing the cause of hearing loss. 
2. Speech Audiometry. While pure tone testing measures loudness and pitch, speech audiometry evaluates your ability to perceive, process, and understand spoken words. You will listen to and repeat words presented at different loudness levels, both in quiet and in the presence of background or competing noise. This test is especially important because many people with hearing loss struggle to understand what’s being said in noisy settings!
3. Tympanometry Test. Unlike tests that require you to actively respond to sounds, a tympanometry test is completely objective. A soft probe is placed in the ear canal to gently change the air pressure and measure how well your eardrum moves. This helps providers identify physical issues in the middle ear, such as fluid buildup, ear infections, or a perforated eardrum as well as assessing eustachian tube function.
4. Bone Conduction Testing. Bone conduction testing assesses hearing sensitivity by bypassing the outer and middle ear to test the inner ear’s response directly. A small device, a bone oscillator, is placed behind your ear, sending vibrations directly to your inner ear. This helps determine whether your hearing loss is sensorineural or conductive.

Preparing for an appointment? As an adult, here is what to expect during a hearing test. Below, we’ll look at the different hearing assessments for infants and toddlers.