What's a Hearing Evaluation?

Hearing impairment affects more than just your ability to hear — it affects your quality of life. Hearing Center of Moultrie stresses the importance of an accurate and timely hearing test. The hearing evaluation is just the beginning of your treatment, and it’s essential to setting your unique care plan in motion and taking action on hearing loss. Your in-depth hearing evaluation will help us craft a treatment plan that renews your ability to hear, allowing you to truly hear your best and live life on your terms.

Step One

The Interview

The interview process helps our practice determine the extent of your hearing impairment and aids us in uncovering any specific areas requiring further attention. Here are some typical questions you’ll want to prepare for:

  • Has anyone else in your family had hearing problems?
  • Have you had any illnesses or injuries that might have affected your hearing?
  • Have you taken any medications that might have contributed to hearing impairment?
  • Have you been exposed to loud noises in your workplace or while participating in leisure activities?

Step Two

A Hearing Examination

Our hearing care providers take a close look inside your ear to figure out if the hearing difficulty you are experiencing could be caused by an obstruction or damage to the ear canal or eardrum.

We use a special instrument — it’s called an otoscope, or a video otoscope — to inspect your outer ear.

The process is completely painless and with the video otoscope, you can even see the inside of your ear, if you would like to.

Step Three

Hearing Tests

If you are suffering from a hearing impairment, your results will be documented on an audiogram. An audiogram is created after you take a pure-tone hearing test, and it will map out the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss. The audiogram shows your hearing loss by frequency, as pitch and loudness of sounds change. Frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz), and the loudness or intensity is measured in decibels (dB). We will help determine whether you have trouble hearing low or high pitches, and what that means for you moving forward.

To figure out the nature of your hearing loss. There’s a chance we will include hearing tests, like the following:

 

QuickSIN and Word Recognition

The QuickSIN (Quick Speech-in-Noise) test checks how well you understand speech when there’s background noise, like in crowded places. It’s a standard test done by audiologists to figure out your hearing abilities.

 

Middle Ear Analysis

Middle ear analysis assesses how sound travels through your ear. There are two tests to help determine middle ear status: Tympanometry and Acoustic Reflexes.

 

Tympanometry

Tympanometry pushes air pressure into the ear canal, making the eardrum move back and forth. The test measures the mobility of the ear drum. Graphs are created, called tympanograms. These can reveal a stiff eardrum, a hole in the eardrum, or an eardrum that moves too much. The tympanogram assists in the detection of fluid in the middle ear, perforation of the eardrum, or wax blocking the ear canal.

 

Acoustic Reflexes

When we hear a loud noise, our ear protects itself by contracting a muscle in the middle ear. That muscle contraction, a reflex, is tested at different frequencies to ensure it is occurring at normal levels. This reflex is used to test the auditory and facial nerves.

If you are suffering from a hearing impairment, your results will be documented on an audiogram. An audiogram is created after you take a pure-tone hearing test, and it will map out the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss. The audiogram shows your hearing loss by frequency, as pitch and loudness of sounds change. Frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz), and the loudness or intensity is measured in decibels (dB). We will help determine whether you have trouble hearing low or high pitches, and what that means for you moving forward.

Step Four

Discussing Results & Treatment Options

An older woman gets an adjustment made to her hearing aid

Hearing Aids

We will work with you to match your lifestyle needs with the most advanced technology, specifically designed to treat your unique hearing loss. The basic components of this instrument include a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver, and a tiny processor. The exceptional effectiveness of your devices is the result of a powerful combination of professional expertise, software, and hardware.

Learn About Hearing Aid Fitting

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is hearing tested in newborns?
Before your child leaves the hospital, they’re given an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) test. When your child is sleeping, an earphone and microphone are placed in the ear, sounds are played, and their response is measured. If the newborn does not have a hearing impairment, an echo is reflected back into the ear canal that is being measured by the microphone. When a baby does have a hearing loss, no echo can be measured on the OAE test. This test is generally administered twice. Please see our section about child hearing loss for more information on hearing impairment and preventive measures for all ages.
Q: How long does a hearing test take?
Approximately 20 minutes.
Q: How often should I get my hearing tested?
This depends on lifestyle as well as on age. Typically, we recommend an annual hearing test, whether there are signs of hearing loss or not, particularly if you are exposed to noise consistently through work or play. If you are exhibiting signs and symptoms of hearing loss, please call today to schedule an appointment.

Ready to Begin Your Journey to Better Hearing?

Contact our hearing professionals today to begin.

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