Typical procedure for a hearing test

In many cases, the examinations may determine the causes of the hearing loss, as well.

The hearing care professional will often start off by asking you some questions relating to your hearing problems, e.g. if you have been subjected to loud noise, or if other people in your family suffer from hearing impairment. Your answers may help the hearing care professional to determine the extent of your problem and uncover specific areas which may require further attention.

Following the initial conversation, the hearing health care professional will often examine your ears with a special instrument called an otoscope. The otoscope allows him/her to determine whether the hearing loss is due to damage to the ear canal or to the eardrum.

The next phase of the examination is the main hearing test which is conducted in a closed, soundproof room. The main hearing test often includes the following tests which, together, help to determine the nature of your hearing loss. The tests are neither painful nor uncomfortable.

• The pure tone test
• The speech test
• The middle ear test

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Based on the initial conversation and the tests which have been performed so far, the hearing health care professional can then determine the nature and extent of your hearing loss. It is important that you tell the hearing health care professional as many details about your job and everyday life as possible, so that he can get a clear impression of your needs. In cooperation with you, he is then able to decide on the best course of action, e.g. hearing aids, implants or some other treatment.