What to Expect from a Local Audiologist Appointment

Table of Contents

The Initial Ear Check

Before you start your hearing tests, the audiologist will conduct an ear examination with an otoscope. He or she will take a look into each of your ears to check for any wax, inflammation or other blockage in your ear(s) which could affect the hearing test results.

Pure-Tone Testing in the Booth

Next, you go to a soundproof booth wearing headphones. The hearing specialist then makes a variety of sounds, at different volumes and pitches. Every time you hear a sound, you press a button. This test determines the degree of hearing loss of a person and indicates the frequency range where the hearing loss occurs.

The Speech-in-Noise Check

A common test to check how you would do in noisy environments is the speech-in-noise test where you are asked to repeat words or sentences over background noise. Your results are compared to those of people with normal hearing.

Reading Your Results

After the hearing tests, the results are measured using an audiogram. The audiologist will show you where you can hear different pitches, and where there are any gaps in your hearing.