subject: The Headphone Hearing Test You Need [print this page] When you need to have a hearing test, one of the main components of it will be using headphones. These headphones will fit over your head and on your ears. They connect directly to the audiologist's system. They do not hurt to put on or take off. However, they can provide your doctors with a great deal of information about your ability to hear well. This is one component of the numerous portions of a screening. You can expect any specialized provider to offer this type of service to help determine the condition of your ears.
The Soundproof Room
One of the key components of the hearing test is to accurately gauge the amount of ability to hear you have. To do this, doctors need to fully get an idea of the condition of your ear structure. You will be put into a soundproof room. You will not hear anything coming from outside this space. This blocks out noise that could otherwise make it hard for you to concentrate on the sounds coming in through the headphones. It also allows for you to have ample ability to respond to the sounds as directed.
Numerous Tests
With these on, you will go through a series of tests to determine the quality of your ability to hear. You will go through a pure tone test, for example, to determine if there is any loss. You will have a speech reception threshold test, also known as an SRT test. You will also have an MCL screening. Also known as a most comfortable listening level screening, it allows you to say where you can hear well enough. The UCL is yet another step in this process. It is also known as the uncomfortable loudness level screening. The word recognition screening is also important because it will tell your doctors what types of sounds you are struggling with. It is also sometimes called a speech discrimination screening.
Now What?
The good news is that all of this only takes a matter of minutes. It is non-invasive which means aside from the headphones, nothing is put inside your ears. You just need to listen to your doctor and respond as he or she tells you to do so. With this information, the doctor can then determine if there are any concerns and, if so, the extent of the damage present.
With the information from a hearing test, your doctor can determine what steps to take to help improve your overall ability to hear well. This may include the use of a device. It may not. You may not have any problems. The good news is that you'll know what the outcome is right away.
