Hearing Center - How Doctors Test For and Treat Impairment

Doctors use several methods when it comes to testing a patient's ability to hear and may use a combination of several methods if they want to pinpoint both the reason for the loss and the degree of impairment. A hearing center may also use more than one technique to test for impairment, although their main focus will be to determine the amount of amplification you need for a listening aid. Once impairment has been confirmed, a doctor will have some options for the type of treatment you'll best respond to. In some cases, no treatment will be applicable, but in others, your ability to hear may be restored.

Audiometric Test

The most common and effective type of test, and the one you would likely see at your local hearing center, is an audiometric test. In this, you wear a set of headphones while a technician plays various tones and sounds. When you hear a tone, you signal in some way (often just lifting a finger will be sufficient). These tones will range from those meant to be clearly audible to those only someone with exceptional sensory sensitivity would hear. Your success or failure on this test can help determine if you have any auditory impairment.

Other Tests

Sometimes a hearing center will rely on other tests to track auditory impairment, depending on the goal of the screening, the age of the individual, and other factors. One such test may simply comprise having the individual hold a hand over each ear and try and parse out words the doctor or consultant says at various volumes. Another might include the use of a tuning fork, which can help determine if the patient can hear tones of various frequencies and pitch and tell the difference between them.

Treatment

Treatment for inner ear damage is extremely limited. There are basically two options. For severe loss, there may be the possibility of a cochlear implant. This implant is inserted into the ear and takes the place of the faulty cochlear function. The other, much more commonly prescribed treatment is a hearing aid. These will help to amplify the sounds in the world around the patient. Some people take very well to listening devices such as these while others struggle with them. It is advised to give them a good shot, however, as they do take some getting used to. Ask a consultant at a hearing center or your doctor about the different options available for your type of auditory loss.