Getting Your Hearing Tested

Unlike most medical tests, the tests that measure hearing ability are relatively quick and painless. An audiologist or hearing instrument specialist will probably perform 3 or 4 simple exams, which may include

• otoscopy, or looking into the ears with a lighted scope;
• an audiogram, a sound check that produces a mapping or graphical representation of hearing ability;
• and a tympanogram, which measures the pressure of the inner ear and assesses the ear drum’s mobility.

These tests are performed at the hearing professional’s office and usually take less than an hour to complete. With the information from these tests, your hearing professional will be able to make an accurate assessment of your hearing capabilities and advise you of all your treatment options. In most cases, this means hearing instruments. If a medical problem is found, your hearing professional will refer you to a physician for next steps.