What Type of Hearing Tests Do You Need?

It may have started so gradually you didn’t notice–you didn’t hear a few words in a conversation. Every so often, you have to ask people to repeat themselves. At home, you simply turned up the TV volume, not realizing anything was wrong until your spouse or friend commented that it was too loud.

Hearing loss can gradually become worse as you age, and several types of hearing tests help us pinpoint the cause of your problem so we can treat it effectively and promptly.  

Raleigh Capitol ENT is the premier provider of choice for Raleigh and the surrounding areas. With convenient locations in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Brier Creek, Wake Forest and Holly Springs, we’re ready to assist you. Whether you need relief from fall allergies, help fighting sinus infections or struggling with hearing loss, we provide the customized, state-of-the-art care you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

What Type of Hearing Test Do You Need?

Hearing tests can help us evaluate your type of hearing loss : sensorineural, conducive or mixed. (We’ll go into greater detail about these types later in this article.)

What type of hearing test you’ll need depends upon your situation. We tailor each approach to fit your individual situation. 

Audiometry

You are probably familiar with an audiometry test—it’s where you sit in a sound-treated room and are asked if you hear different tones. It’s a vital tool that helps us determine which hearing aid is best for you. 

During the test, we’ll place earphones or headphones over your ears, and ask if you hear or understand various tones and even speech. 

In addition, we use something called a bone oscillator. This is a small device that we place on the bone behind your ear. It’s used to send sound vibrations directly to your inner ear, Because this bypasses your eardrums and ear canal, we can better evaluate how well your cochlea is functioning. The cochlea translates sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain for interpretation. 

We examine the results to determine the degree and type of hearing loss you have. From there, we work closely with you to find a solution. 

Impedance Testing

During this test, we’ll measure your middle ear pressure and evaluate your eardrum movement. We’ll use something called a tympanometer, which is a soft probe like an earplug that sends air into your ear. It will also send a low tone so that we can evaluate how your eardrum moves. 

The test is painless, and some patients report it feels similar to when your ears “pop” due to air pressure. 

This type of hearing test is very helpful if we suspect you have fluid in your ears (otitis media), problems with your eustachian tube or perforated eardrums. 

Otoacoustic Emissions Test (OAE)

This painless procedure measures how well your inner ear responds to various frequencies. We use a soft probe that has a small speaker. It makes a clicking sound, and we then measure how well your inner ear responds. 

This test is particularly useful by testing damage to hair cells even before you notice profound hearing loss. These tiny hair cells are vital to your hearing process; they help turn sound into electrical signals that are then interpreted by your brain. 

What Can a Hearing Test Reveal About My Problem?

Hearing tests provide us with diagnostic clues about your hearing problem and how we can serve you. We use the various hearing tests listed above, each of which can reveal another facet of your issue. Most importantly, our hearing tests give us insight into what type of hearing loss you may have. 

We’ll take a closer look at these different kinds of hearing loss:

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Did you injure your ear? Are you exposed to loud noises regularly as part of your job? Have you ever been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease?

In addition, there are certain medicines that are ototoxic–meaning they can cause hearing problems. Some of these medicines are used in the treatment of cancer, heart disease and serious infections. How can you tell if you’re on an ototoxic medication? Simply speak to your provider.

In most cases, the cause of sensorineural hearing loss is unknown.

Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is usually permanent. However, we can work with you to find the best hearing aid to assist you. 

Conductive Hearing Loss

When sound waves can’t reach your inner ear, you have difficulty hearing. The good news is that it can be treated by medicine or surgery, depending upon the cause.

These soundwaves could be prevented from reaching your inner ear by problems such as excessive earwax, a large amount of fluid, or even a rupture in your eardrum. 

Mixed Hearing Loss

This type is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Who Should Have a Hearing Test?

Maybe you occasionally have problems understanding what is said, but does that call for a hearing test? If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you should schedule an appointment with one of our leading audiologists:

• Do you frequently ask others to repeat themselves?
• Do you find it hard to understand someone unless they’re facing you?
• Is it difficult to hear in crowded restaurants or other busy places?
• Do you believe that others talk too softly?

We go into this topic more in-depth in our earlier article, “Three Ways to Know If You Need a Hearing Test”

At Raleigh Capitol ENT, We Have Solutions for Your Hearing Problems

It’s very tempting to go to a hearing aid specialist instead of an audiologist. It may even appear more convenient. But what you may not realize is that there is a big difference between a hearing aid dispenser and an audiologist. Audiologists must have a master’s degree, clinical internships and pass a rigorous certification exam.

You shouldn’t trust your hearing to just anyone. See why our doctors and audiologists have been recognized as leaders in their fields. Schedule an appointment today.

Key Takeaways:

• Various types of hearing tests help us diagnose the kind of hearing loss you have.
• There are three types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive and mixed.
• If you often have to ask others to repeat themselves, or everyone seems to mumble, you should get a hearing test.
• Only a licensed audiologist can provide the level of care and professionalism you need for a hearing test. 

The information in this article and the other articles on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider.