A full hearing evaluation typically takes less than an hour. Your Hearing Care Practitioner will do multiple tests to verify your hearing loss.
1. Your Medical History
First your Hearing Care Practitioner will discuss your health and lifestyle, including any medications you are taking and previous ear conditions.
2. Video Otoscopy
Next, your Hearing Care Practitioner will look in your ear canal with a camera, you will be able to see the inside of your ears on a TV screen!
3. Air Conduction
During this part of the test you will wear headphones and your Hearing Care Practitioner will play a series of tones, looking for the softest sound you can hear. This will show your ability to hear at different frequencies.
4. Bone Conduction
This part of the test bypasses the outer and middle ear and focuses on the cochlea’s ability to hear. Don’t worry though, the test is very easy, your Hearing Care Practitioner will place a bone oscillator head band on your mastoid and play vibrations that you will be able to hear, similar to the air conduction test.
5. Speech Testing
During the final portion of your hearing test your Hearing Care Practitioner will test your ability to hear speech with and without amplification.
6. Results
The results of your hearing evaluation are put onto an audiogram, your Hearing Care Practitioner will discuss the results with you right after the test.