A hearing test is a process performed by doctors and specialists to uncover specific problems associated with a person's ability to hear.
It is used as both a preventative screening as well as a diagnostic tool to determine if the loss is severe enough to require some treatment.
Loss can occur for many reasons including disease, medications and injury, but the most common cause is simple aging.
There are solutions available that can provide a profound improvement on a person's loss, even in some cases of severe loss, though there is no cure for this condition in full.
What Is It? A hearing test is a screening of the sensitivity of a person's ability to hear.
An audiometer is the most common device used to administer this type of screening.
It will determine the level of sensitivity a person has to various frequencies.
Frequencies are tones; by checking various tones, it is possible to determine what type of sounds a person can hear and which the person cannot.
There are numerous types of tests, including the Weber test and the Rinne test.
It is up to the provider to determine which test is ideal for the patient.
How It Works For those who need to have this procedure done, it often occurs in a space that is secluded and quiet.
The person will sit in this area and wear a set of headphones.
The headphones connect directly to the audiometer.
The device will produce a variety of sounds over a short period of time.
The doctor or specialist will control the frequency and the volume levels during the procedure.
Each of the ears receives its own screening since loss can occur in one or both ears.
During the test, the screener asks the individual to note when sound comes from the headphones.
In some cases, it is also necessary to alert the user on which side of the body they hear the sound - left or right.
The device will go through a series of various sounds checking both the response to the sound level and the tone of each note sent through the headphones.
The screening seems simple, and it is, but it provides a vast amount of information to the screener.
A hearing test can be a very helpful device for learning what is occurring in a person's ability to hear properly.
In some people, it can detect even a small amount of limitation.
Once this limitation is discovered, of course, it is then possible to learn what options are available to improve it.
Often, those with moderate to severe loss will have the ability to use a device that improves function and thus improves quality of life.