Whether you think you might be experiencing hearing loss or you just want to have your hearing tested because you want an overall health check carried out, booking an appointment with an audiologist is a good idea. However, the idea of attending a hearing test might be a frightening one, especially if you’ve never had one before. 

As with most things, it is the unknown element of the hearing test that is often the most worrying, and when you know more about what to expect, the fear factor will be significantly diminished. Therefore, read on to discover what things to expect at your hearing test so that you don’t hesitate to book one if you need one. 

A discussion about your medical history 

The first thing that will usually take place at a hearing test is that your audiologist will discuss your medical history with you. They will ask questions to determine why you have asked for a hearing test and what your requirements are. This will allow your audiologist to paint a clear picture of your specific situation and will help them understand what they might need to look out for during the test. 

Questions that the audiologist might ask will include your complete medical history, whether you are taking any medications and whether you have experienced tinnitus or hearing loss. In a wider regard, the audiologist will always want to know about any family history of hearing loss or hearing-related conditions. 

A visual inspection 

After the initial discussion and questions have been concluded, your audiologist will conduct a physical visual inspection of your ear. They will begin by looking at the exterior and then move to the interior. Once this initial visual inspection has been done and the findings are recorded, your audiologist will use a tool called an otoscope to look into the ear canal and inspect the cochlea hairs. 

Not only will this allow the audiologist to see if there is any damage, but they will also be able to see if there are any other reasons why you might be experiencing hearing loss, such as a build-up of wax or an infection within the ear. 

The hearing tests 

Next on the agenda is the hearing test itself, where you will need to listen out for specific sounds and press a button when you hear them. As you can see, this is not intrusive or painful, and it will give the audiologist a fully rounded idea of exactly what issues you might be experiencing when it comes to your hearing. There will also be a speech test to see if you can follow a quiet conversation. 

Aftercare and follow-up appointments 

Once the tests have been carried out, you can expect to find out whether or not you need to make any follow-up appointments for further testing or for hearing aid fitting if this is determined to be the next course of action. 

Even if no additional appointments are needed, you will learn how to take care of your hearing so that you don’t experience hearing loss in the future.