One part of being a responsible adult is taking good care of your health. It’s the best way to help you live a long life. While managing stress, eating healthy, and staying active is crucial for your physical well-being, you must also pay special attention to your ears. These organs are essential for helping you navigate the world and maintain your balance.
Sadly, many people don’t realise the importance of proper ear care until they have hearing loss. Fortunately, you can improve your hearing by scheduling a hearing test.
However, it remains a secondary part of many adults’ healthcare plans because they may be unsure or intimidated by the testing process. If you want to ensure a productive hearing test, this article will guide you through the assessment by describing doctors’ procedures.
Discuss the Patient’s Medical History
A healthy relationship and successful procedure start with clear communication and establishing rapport. Before your hearing test, your otolaryngologist or ear doctor will get to know you better by asking about your occupation, lifestyle, and hobbies. They’ll also ask about your family and medical history to understand any additional factors causing hearing loss.
Moreover, this conversation is the perfect time for patients to express their worries, ask questions, and set goals for their hearing care.
Conduct a Set of Physical Examinations
Hearing loss can result from different factors like a foreign object in the ear canal, wax accumulation, a tumour, or an infection. Before your doctors prescribe the recommended treatments, they’ll examine your ears. They’ll use an otoscope (a device with a magnifying lens and light on the end) to assess the ear canal and eardrum.
Run Several Diagnostic Tests
After completing the physical examinations, your audiologist will conduct a diagnostic hearing test and require you to wear specialised headphones in a soundproof booth. They’ll then use an audiometer to play different tones and words at different frequencies and volumes.
Next, they’ll ask you to respond to each sound they play. These professionals will record the test results on an audiogram, using the data to determine your hearing loss level and program any hearing aids if necessary.
Conduct Other Tests
Sometimes the physical and diagnostic tests may not be enough to determine the source of your hearing problems. They will also conduct other hearing tests such as impedance and otoacoustic emissions (OAE).
OAEs are sounds that the inner ear emits to respond to sounds. An OAE test involves playing different tones into the ear and measuring the sounds. During this test, your healthcare provider will insert a small probe into your ear canal and send a series of sound pulses through it. They’ll then measure the echoes your inner produces in response to the sound and detect early signs of hearing loss.
These tests will also enable an audiologist to diagnose what type of hearing loss you have, such as conductive, sensorineural, or both, and find the best treatment for your condition.
Reviewing the Patient’s Results
Once you’ve finished your hearing test, you’ll end it with how you began it: with a friendly conversation. During the final phase, your audiologist will explain each test’s results and outcomes.
They will also discuss if you need a hearing aid or other treatments to restore your hearing. Moreover, this step is your last chance to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns with your healthcare provider. Additionally, they’ll provide tips to prevent permanent damage and ensure your best auditory health.
Conclusion
Nobody deserves to suffer from hearing loss because it can negatively affect your life. Fortunately, you can prevent this debilitating condition by consulting your ear doctors for a professional hearing test.
If you need a professional hearing test in Mildura, visit County Hearing Care! We offer various hearing services to fit your unique needs. Check your hearing now and take the first step to a happier life!
