How Does a Hearing Test Work? Expert Audiologist Explains the Process

Written by- Dr. S.M. Tarique Najeeb

A hearing test checks if your ears are working properly and doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Experts say adults should test their hearing every 10 years until age 50 and every 3 years after that. Around 15% of adults worldwide have some degree of hearing loss, and many of them don’t even know it. Early detection can help prevent further hearing problems and improve your quality of life. Regular tests also help doctors recommend the right treatment or hearing aid if needed.

What Happens During a Hearing Test?

A hearing test is done by a doctor called an audiologist. This test checks how well you can hear different sounds and pitches. It can also show if hearing aids could help you hear better.

It can also show if hearing aids could help you hear better. Once your device is optimized, using travel-ready hearing aids can make trips safer and more enjoyable.

There are different types of hearing tests, such as:

• Pure-tone audiometry – tests your ability to hear simple tones.
  
• Speech audiometry – checks how well you can hear and understand speech.
  
• Bone conduction testing – finds out if your inner ear works properly.
  
• Acoustic reflex testing – checks how your ears react to loud sounds.
  
• Tympanometry – measures how your eardrum moves.
  

The audiologist will choose the test depending on your age and other factors.

Hearing loss can happen slowly, so sometimes you don’t notice it. Adults with untreated hearing loss may start avoiding social events because it’s hard to hear conversations. That’s why it’s important to get tested when your doctor suggests it.

A hearing test helps find out:

• If you have hearing loss.
  
• How mild or severe it is.
  
• What type of hearing loss it is—conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.
  
• Whether you need treatment, hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing systems, or cochlear implants.
  

Hearing tests are painless and usually take about 30 minutes. They are done in a quiet room that blocks outside noises. You’ll wear earphones, one ear at a time, and listen to short tones played at different volumes and pitches. A machine called an audiometer checks if you can hear each sound clearly and whether one ear hears better than the other.

Hearing test RESULTS

You do not pass or fail this exam. However, the results determine whether you have a hearing loss in one or both ears and the percentage of hearing loss.

You can measure sound in two ways- decibels (dB) and hertz (Hz). It measures volume or level in decibels (dB), whereas it measures pitch or frequency in hertz (Hz).

You are most likely to hear these terms from your audiologist when they explain your test results to you. 

Here’s the breakdown 

Understanding your results

Your audiologist will hand you a graph called an audiogram demonstrating the intensity of sounds you can hear at different pitches or frequencies. The vertical axis denotes the volume of the sounds, whereas the horizontal axis depicts the frequency or pitch of the sound.

What is an Audiogram?

The audiogram outlines your hearing thresholds across various volumes and pitches in a silent room. You will hear a few soft tones that you can detect half of the time. However, it’s absolutely fine if you missed some. More importantly, an audiogram uses a numerical system to measure hearing ability; therefore, it is quantitative, not qualitative. It will not describe the quality of your hearing ability and may not detect if you have hidden hearing loss. 

How does an audiogram look?

The graph here represents a blank audiogram with the degrees of hearing loss. Frequency is the top part of the graph, ranging from 125 Hz on the left to 3000 Hz (sometimes till 8000 Hz) on the right. Sound hearing level is outlined on the left side of the graph ranging from -10 dB at the top to 120 dB at the bottom.

How to read and understand audiograms?

Understanding an Audiogram

Reading an audiogram is easier than it sounds. The Y-axis shows how loud a sound is in decibels (dB), from -10 to 120. The X-axis shows the pitch of the sound in hertz (Hz), from 125 to 8,000.

Even though the Y-axis starts at -10 dB, it doesn’t mean there is no sound. It just shows the softest sound a person with normal hearing can hear at each pitch.

Think of the X-axis like a piano keyboard—the sounds get higher as you move from left to right. Vowel sounds are low-pitched, while consonant sounds like S, F, SH, CH, H, TH, T, and K are high-pitched.

Online Hearing Tests

There are hearing tests you can do online, like quiz-based tests or noise-based tests. A quiz-based test tells you if you might need a proper in-person hearing test. A noise-based test lets you listen to different sounds to see which ones you can hear.

Online tests can give you an idea of your hearing, but they cannot replace a real hearing test done by an audiologist. To get a reliable test, visiting a trusted hearing center like SoundX is the best choice.

Why You Should Test Your Hearing

Even if you don’t notice hearing loss, it’s a good idea to check your hearing from time to time. While hearing loss can’t always be fixed, there are ways to protect the hearing you still have and make listening easier.So, take a hearing test today and get your audiogram from your audiologist—it’s the first step to keeping your ears healthy.

FAQ

1. What is a hearing test?
A hearing test checks how well your ears can hear different sounds and pitches to see if you have any hearing loss. It also helps the audiologist decide if you need hearing aids or other treatments.

2. Who performs a hearing test?
An audiologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing, performs the hearing test. They are trained to understand all types of hearing problems and guide you properly.

3. Does a hearing test hurt?
No, a hearing test is painless and usually takes about 30 minutes in a quiet room. You just wear earphones and listen to sounds while the audiologist records what you hear.

4. How often should I get my hearing tested?
Adults should test their hearing every 10 years until age 50 and every 3 years after that. Testing regularly helps catch problems early before they get worse.

5. What does an audiogram show?
An audiogram is a graph that shows the softest sounds you can hear at different pitches or frequencies. It helps the audiologist understand which sounds are hard for you to hear.

6. What do decibels and hertz mean in a hearing test?
Decibels measure how loud a sound is, and hertz measures the pitch or frequency of the sound. These numbers help the audiologist know exactly how well your ears work.

7. Can online hearing tests replace real tests?
No, online tests only give an idea of your hearing, but a proper test by an audiologist is needed for accurate results. Online tests can’t detect all types of hearing problems.

8. Why is it important to test your hearing?
Testing your hearing helps detect problems early, protect the hearing you still have, and get the right treatment if needed. It also makes listening to conversations, music, and everyday sounds easier and more enjoyable.

Dr S.M. Tarique Audiologist says:

Not all hearing loss needs surgery . In fact most cases can be managed with modern hearing aids. But in some structural or medical cases, surgery can help.

Visit Profile- Dr. S.M. Tarique Najeeb