Have you been thinking about booking a hearing test? Since hearing loss is a gradual process, it can be hard to know if you have hearing loss, and you might not notice the day to day changes in your hearing until you begin to experience the symptoms of hearing loss. Being proactive about your hearing health is a great start, and we’re happy to help! If you’re nervous about having your hearing tested, here’s exactly what you can expect at a hearing test.

A Medical History

It might surprise you that the first step in a hearing test is to complete a medical history. To properly assess your hearing health, we’ll ask you a few questions about your medical history and overall health. Some existing medical conditions could be affecting your hearing, and we want to determine the kind of hearing loss you have so we can recommend the best treatment options. Certain conditions like allergies, infections, or earwax buildup can affect your hearing, and certain medications have been shown to damage hearing. Have you had a head injury recently? Any trauma to the head could also have affected your hearing, and we need to know all the details. We’ll also ask if you work in a very noisy environment, and if your work or leisure activities could be contributing to your hearing loss.

A Visual Exam

As part of the hearing test we’ll take a closer look at your ears. This is completely non-invasive, and we’ll simply look at your ear and in your ear canal with an otoscope, or handheld scope that will help us see your ears clearly. We’ll look for any signs of injury, illness, or infection that could be affecting your hearing, as well as checking to see if you have a buildup of earwax that could be making it difficult to hear.

The Hearing Test

Depending on your hearing concerns and the severity of your hearing loss, we’ll choose the hearing tests that will help us get a clear picture of your hearing health. Most hearing tests will take place in a quiet, sound-treated room that will let you focus on hearing the sounds we’ll be playing. You won’t be distracted other noises like a fan or heater, or the sound of feet in the hallway outside.During the pure tone test, we’ll ask you to wear headphones and listen to a series of sounds played at various volumes and pitches. All you have to do is tell us which sounds you can hear. We’ll determine the softest sound you can hear at each pitch, and your answers will be mapped onto a graph called an audiogram that will show you exactly what sounds you’re not able to hear.Another hearing test is a speech test, and you’ll be asked to repeat back words or phrases that you hear. Once again, these speech sounds will be at different volumes and pitches, and will help us get a clear sense of your hearing health.After the hearing tests, we’ll look at the audiogram with you, and help you understand the results, from the kind of hearing loss you’re experiencing, to how mild or severe your hearing loss is, and which pitches are the most affected.

Discussing Your Lifestyle

Knowing about your hearing loss is only part of the picture. To recommend the best treatment options, we’ll also discuss your lifestyle and hearing needs. Do you spend a lot of time talking on the phone, or chasing your grandchildren around the park? Do you work in a crowded office, or are you retired? We want to understand what hobbies, work, or social situations are the most important to you, and work with you to find the device that will match these hearing needs.

Glendora Hearing

If you’re ready to book a hearing test and find the perfect hearing aids to help you in every listening situation, call us today at Glendora Hearing. Your hearing health is linked to more than just your ability to follow conversations. Your quality of life, relationships, career goals, and physical and mental health are all affected by your hearing. Don’t wait another day, but book your hearing test today and take control of your hearing health.