What Happens During a Hearing Test?

Hearing changes can develop slowly. You might start turning the television up a little higher, asking people to repeat themselves or finding conversations harder to follow when there is background noise.

These changes are easy to adapt to, particularly when they happen over several years. You may not realise how much extra concentration you're using to keep up with conversations until hearing starts to interfere with work, family life or social situations.

Some people also delay booking a hearing test because they aren't sure what the appointment involves. At Tranquil Hearing Care in Hoddesdon, a comprehensive hearing test is a straightforward and non-invasive process that allows your audiologist to investigate your hearing in detail and explain the findings clearly.

Talking Through Your Hearing Health

Your appointment begins with a conversation about your hearing, medical history and any changes you've noticed.

Your audiologist may ask about situations where hearing has become particularly difficult. You might hear well during a one-to-one conversation but struggle in restaurants, meetings or family gatherings. Other people find telephone conversations difficult or notice that they can hear someone speaking but can't always make out exactly what has been said.

This discussion gives your audiologist valuable context before testing begins. Your hearing thresholds provide important clinical information, but your everyday experiences also help determine which tests and recommendations are appropriate.

Looking Inside Your Ears

Your audiologist will examine your ears using an otoscope. This allows them to inspect the ear canal and eardrum and check for anything that could affect the assessment.

Ear wax is one possible cause of temporary muffled or reduced hearing. Other conditions affecting the outer or middle ear can also influence how well sound reaches the inner ear.

If excessive ear wax prevents accurate testing, your audiologist can discuss the appropriate next step. Tranquil Hearing Care also provides microsuction ear wax removal at its Hoddesdon clinic.

Checking Your Middle Ear with Tympanometry

Tympanometry provides information about how the eardrum and middle ear are functioning.

During the test, a small probe is placed at the entrance of the ear canal. The equipment gently changes the air pressure while measuring the movement of the eardrum.

The results can help your audiologist identify patterns associated with problems such as fluid behind the eardrum, Eustachian tube dysfunction and some types of eardrum abnormality. The test is quick and doesn't require you to respond to any sounds.

Tympanometry doesn't measure how well you can hear. Instead, it provides additional information that can be interpreted alongside the rest of your hearing test.

Measuring Your Hearing with Pure Tone Audiometry

Pure Tone Audiometry, usually shortened to PTA, measures the quietest sounds you can hear across a range of frequencies.

You'll listen to a series of tones through calibrated headphones or earphones and indicate whenever you hear one, even when it is very quiet.

Your responses allow the audiologist to establish your hearing thresholds at different frequencies. This information can show whether hearing loss is present and help determine its degree and pattern.

What If I Can Hear Sounds but Struggle to Understand Speech?

Not every listening difficulty can be explained by reduced hearing sensitivity.

Some people can detect sounds at expected levels but find it particularly difficult to understand speech when several people are talking or there is background noise. They may also struggle to follow verbal instructions or distinguish between similar sounds.

In these circumstances, Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) testing may be appropriate.

APD relates to difficulties with how the brain processes auditory information. Tranquil Hearing Care offers APD testing for adults and children where appropriate, allowing the audiologist to investigate listening difficulties that may not be explained by a standard hearing screening alone.

Depending on your symptoms, speech understanding assessments may also form part of your hearing test.

Understanding Your Hearing Test Results

Once the relevant tests have been completed, your audiologist will explain the findings.

Results from Pure Tone Audiometry are plotted on an audiogram, which shows your hearing thresholds across different frequencies. Your audiologist can talk you through the graph and explain what the results mean for everyday listening.

If your hearing falls within expected levels, the results can provide a useful baseline for comparison during future hearing tests.

If hearing loss or another concern is identified, your audiologist will discuss the appropriate next steps. Recommendations depend on what the testing has found and may include further monitoring, hearing aids, tinnitus support, hearing protection or referral for medical investigation.

What Happens If I Need Hearing Aids?

If your hearing test identifies hearing loss and hearing aids are appropriate, you'll have an opportunity to discuss the different options available.

At Tranquil Hearing Care, you can try different hearing aids in the clinic, allowing you to experience the technology before deciding which option is right for you.

Your audiologist will take into account your hearing test results alongside your lifestyle, communication needs and personal preferences. Different styles and technologies can then be explored to find an option suited to the situations where you need the most support.

If you decide to proceed, your hearing aids can be programmed for your hearing loss and a fitting arranged. You'll also receive guidance on using and looking after them, with ongoing support available as you adjust to wearing them.

Book a Hearing Test in Hoddesdon

If you've noticed changes in your hearing, find conversations increasingly difficult to follow or simply want a clearer understanding of your hearing health, you can book a hearing test at Tranquil Hearing Care in Hoddesdon.

Our hearing tests can include Pure Tone Audiometry, tympanometry and APD testing where appropriate. Your audiologist will explain your results clearly and recommend the next steps based on what the assessment identifies.