Have you been wondering if your hearing isn’t quite what it used to be? Maybe you’re not sure if you need a hearing test, or you’ve been putting it off because you don’t know what to expect. The team at Pioneer Hearing and Tinnitus help people like you every day understand their hearing health better. A hearing test isn’t just about checking if you can hear – it’s about understanding how you hear in the situations that matter most to you. Whether you’ve noticed small changes in your hearing or just want to be proactive about your hearing health, we’re here to help you take that first step.
Getting your hearing checked is one of the most important things you can do to stay connected to the people and sounds in your life. After all, better hearing starts with understanding where you are today.
Who Should Have a Hearing Test?
If you’re finding it harder to follow conversations, especially in noisy environments or if people often tell you the TV is too loud, it might be time for a hearing test. You may also notice you’re frequently asking others to repeat themselves or that certain sounds seem muffled. Hearing loss can happen gradually, so it’s easy to overlook the early signs. Getting a hearing test helps identify any issues early on and if needed, an audiologist can recommend the right solutions to improve your hearing.
What to Expect During the Hearing Test
During a hearing test, you can expect a thorough evaluation of your ability to hear different sounds and understand speech. Your audiologist will guide you through a series of tests designed to assess the extent of any hearing loss and determine the best course of action.
- Pure-tone testing: This test measures your ability to hear different pitches and volumes. You will wear headphones and respond to tones played at varying frequencies and intensities to detect the softest sounds you can hear.
- Speech audiometry: This test evaluates how well you understand spoken words at different volume levels. You will be asked to repeat words or sentences played through headphones, assessing your speech recognition in both quiet and noisy environments.
- Tympanometry: This test checks for issues in your middle ear, such as fluid buildup, earwax blockage or eardrum problems. By measuring how your eardrum reacts to changes in air pressure, tympanometry helps identify any potential obstructions or infections.
- Bone conduction testing: This test determines where hearing loss is occurring by bypassing the outer and middle ear. A small device is placed behind your ear to send sound vibrations directly to your inner ear, helping to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
These tests give a full picture of your hearing health and help determine the most suitable treatment options for you.
Understanding Your Results
After your hearing test, your audiologist will review the results with you in detail. We will explain the degree of hearing loss you may have and what that means for your daily life. If hearing aids are recommended, we’ll discuss which options might work best for your lifestyle and hearing needs. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, and together we can decide on the next steps to improve your hearing.