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What to Expect at a Hearing Evaluation

Lynsey Ralston, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA




The first step if you or a family member suspect hearing loss is to schedule a hearing evaluation. There are a variety of diagnostic tests to help diagnose severity and configuration of hearing loss as well as tools to measure impact of hearing loss in everyday life. A well-rounded evaluation can provide information about the hearing loss itself, further counseling recommendations for treatment, and provide differential diagnosis for various medical conditions that may require additional referrals. At Professional Hearing Center, you can expect a comprehensive approach to hearing healthcare to best suit yours or your loved ones communication needs.


A thorough case history with the doctor of audiology to learn more about your subjective symptoms can better direct which tests to be completed. Questions may involve your history of medical conditions, noise, injuries, and surgeries. There are many conditions that may require further evaluation into their contribution to hearing loss. Current symptoms experienced will be asked to help identify the impact of the difficulty on daily life.


During the hearing test, you’ll wear a set of headphones while sitting in a soundproof room. The audiologist plays a series of tones for you through the headphones at varied pitches and volumes to find the softest sounds you are able to hear at that particular pitch. The audiologist may also evaluate your ability to hear words and phrases in quiet and in the presence of background noise. This portion of the evaluation will also assess the ability to understand speech.


Immittance testing may be used to evaluate the status of the middle ear space as well as the neural pathways involved in the acoustic reflex. A small probe is placed in the ear canal and a quick change in pressure is administered to measure the compliance of the eardrum. A series of loud tones are played to then find the level at which the acoustic reflex is present.


There may be reason to objectively measure auditory function utilizing otoacoustic emissions. A small probe is placed in the ear and a series of beeps are heard. The probe then measures an emission exiting the ear back to probe to further assess auditory function in the inner ear. At the end of the evaluation, your audiologist goes over the result in an audiogram and will help you interpret the results to make treatment recommendations. An additional appointment may be scheduled to further discuss treatment options if needed.


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