Hearing Test and Other Screenings

If you think that you or someone you know may be suffering from auditory loss, there are a number of compelling reasons to have your ears checked out and be screened for signs of impairment. With the treatment options, listening aids, and medical advice available today, there is no reason to suffer in silence. Of course, it isn't only seniors who need to be conscious about their ability to hear. Even young adults and children can be subject to impairment. Below are the types of screenings used to determine loss. General Hearing Test The simplest form of screening is done by either a doctor or nurse and consists of nothing more or less than simply saying words and having the patient repeat the words back to them. This is typically done one ear at a time. If the patient has some difficulty repeating the words back, it could be a sign of auditory loss and further screening should be considered. This is the kind of screening a doctor may implement if there is no particular reason to suspect auditory loss. Tuning Fork If you've ever tuned a piano, you may be familiar with a tuning fork. Even if you've just been around musical instruments and musicians in your life, you have probably come across it at some point. It is a metal, pronged instrument and it has a distinct musical tone when struck. While usually used to tune musical instruments, it is also fairly effective in a simple hearing test. Striking the fork and evaluating a patient's response can determine if there are issues with the patient being able to hear various frequencies. Audiometric Screening One of the most effective forms of screening involves using an audiometer. If you recall undergoing a hearing test in school, this is probably what you remember. It involved putting on headphones, listening to tones of various volumes, and being asked to react to those tones. The provider will play tones of decreasing volume until the subject is no longer able to respond to the sounds. This will give them a baseline of their capabilities and help them determine if they fall within the normal spectrum or not. There are other screenings that are sometimes used with individuals in special circumstances, such as newborns, like auditory brainstem response screening and otoacoustic emissions testing. Whatever your unique case may be, it is important to have a regularly scheduled hearing test to ensure that your hearing is where it should be.