Get on the Path to Better Hearing
You finally did it — scheduled yourself a hearing evaluation with an audiologist. Congratulations! You’re already on your way to better hearing health.
But it can be a little intimidating to walk into a new doctor’s office with unfamiliar equipment. We will take you step by step through the process of getting your hearing tested at Associated Audiologists so you know just what to expect.
What to expect at a comprehensive hearing evaluation
Complete your pre-exam paperwork. You will receive some forms to complete before your visit, either digitally or through postal mail. Please complete them ahead of time and submit them online or bring any paper forms with you to your first appointment.
Arrive at the office. Our friendly front desk team will greet you and gather any information they may need, such as your insurance card and driver’s license. They will let you know when the audiologist is ready for you.
Share your concerns. The first part of your visit is an opportunity to expand on the concerns you mentioned when you made your appointment. While our audiologists are experts at hearing health, they’re also great listeners. You are the expert on your own hearing experience, and sharing your strengths and concerns with us helps us serve you best.
Test your hearing. You will likely have several different types of tests that measure various elements of hearing ability. These might include:
- Otoscopic examination to evaluate the status of your outer ear, ear canal, and eardrum.
- Tympanometry/Immittance testing to assess the function of your middle ear system.
- Air conduction and bone conduction threshold testing to determine the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies. This testing also reveals the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss, which is more in depth than a hearing screening.
- Word recognition testing to assess your ability to understand speech when the volume of the speech signal is adequate for your level of hearing.
- Otoacoustic emission testing to differentiate sensory (inner ear) from neural (nerve) hearing loss.
- Loudness discomfort testing to measure your ability to tolerate loud sounds and identify the presence of decreased sound tolerance. This is often discretionary as determined by your audiologist, especially if you exhibit extreme sensitivity to loud sounds.
- Speech in noise testing to assess your ability to understand speech when background noise is present. This is optional but important testing, even though it is not covered by health insurance.
Thanks to the advanced technology in our clinics and the professional training of our audiologists, none of these tests are painful or invasive.
Next steps after your hearing evaluation
Following the testing, the audiologist will explain the results to you and answer any questions you may have. You can expect your appointment to last a total of about 60 to 90 minutes.
Keep in mind that everything we do is tailored to your specific needs, so your experience may be slightly different based on the concerns you share with the audiologists. It’s always ok to ask questions, write down notes or bring a support person with you to the appointment.
That’s all there is to it! If you have any questions or concerns before your appointment, give us a call or send a message through our website and we will be happy to help you.
See you soon!
Still need to make that appointment? Schedule online or call us today.
