What Is An Audiometer Hearing Test?

If you think you may have a problem with your ability to hear

, an audiometer hearing test may be one of the first that you receive. Generally, doctors will test your ability to hear with other devices first, including through basic screenings and with the use of a tuning fork. Then, the doctor will have a good understanding if there is the potential for loss present. If that is the case, the doctor will then request a more thorough evaluation. That happens with an audiometer screening. In many cases, you will need to see a specialist for this type of screening. That specialist is called an audiologist.

What Happens During This Screening?

During this screening, the doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation of your ability to hear. This is often a series of tests rather than just one. During it, the audiologist will ask you questions to gather any information about what may be causing your loss. He or she will also need to get a thorough explanation of your medical and work history. Then, he or she will conduct the actual hearing test.

During it, you will wear a set of headphones. These fit well over your ear and allow you to block out any sounds from outside of the room. Then, you will hear sounds coming into your ears one at a time. The goal is to check each ear individually since loss can occur in just one or in both. The sounds come into your ear at various frequencies and levels. The goal is to determine if you can hear them and, if so, where you hear them. The doctor may tell you to raise a hand when you hear the sounds. It may be required to raise your hand on the side of your body where the sound game from.

You will notice that the tones become louder and become more faint. In some cases, you will not hear them all and that is normal. However, doctors need to know how low of a sound you can hear. This provides information about any type of potential loss you may have. It will also determine if you need more thorough evaluations of your ability to hear. You should take your time with this test and be sure you answer accurately without trying to guess.

The good news is that an audiometer hearing test can provide a good amount of information to your doctor about what level of hearing you have or do not have. From there, the specialist can offer treatment options or, in some cases, further test to get more information about your comfort level so that a treatment decision can be made.

by: Abigail Aaronson

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