What are the Most Common Hearing Tests?

Many people assume there’s only one type of hearing test to assess ear health, but that’s not true. In reality, there are several types of hearing tests, and your audiologist may recommend different ones based on what they need to evaluate. Each test provides specific insights, allowing for a more detailed understanding of your hearing.

Pure-Tone Audiometry

Pure-tone audiometry is probably the most well-known type of hearing test. It’s the one people usually picture when they think of a hearing exam. During the test, you sit in a soundproof booth with headphones on while the audiologist plays tones at different frequencies and volumes in each ear. You then signal when you hear a sound. This simple test helps assess how well you can hear across a range of pitches and volumes.

This test is used to measure your hearing sensitivity across a range of frequencies, from low to high. The results are plotted on an audiogram, a visual representation of your hearing ability. This audiogram helps your audiologist determine if you have hearing loss, which frequencies are affected and the severity of the loss.

Speech Audiometry

Speech audiometry goes beyond just hearing tones – it assesses your ability to hear and understand speech. This test typically has two parts: speech reception threshold (SRT) and word recognition score (WRS).

For the SRT, you’ll listen to a series of spoken words at varying volumes and repeat them back to the audiologist. This helps determine the quietest level at which you can recognize and repeat words accurately. The WRS, on the other hand, measures how well you can understand speech at a comfortable volume. Your audiologist will read a list of words, and you’ll repeat them back. This test is particularly useful for understanding how hearing loss affects your ability to communicate in everyday situations.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test that your audiologist may use to see what is happening with your middle ear, and in particular your eardrum and the space just behind it. Unlike other hearing tests, tympanometry doesn’t assess hearing ability directly. Instead, it measures how well the eardrum moves in response to changes in air pressure. During the test, a small probe is placed in your ear, and you may feel slight pressure changes. Tympanometry helps your audiologist detect issues such as fluid in the middle ear, eardrum perforations or Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Acoustic Reflex Testing

Acoustic reflex testing measures the reflexive response of the muscles in the middle ear to loud sounds. When a loud sound enters the ear, a tiny muscle in the middle ear contracts automatically to protect the ear from potential damage. This test helps audiologists assess the pathway of sound from the ear to the brainstem.

During the test, a probe is placed in the ear, and brief, loud sounds are played. The probe measures the reflexive contraction of the middle ear muscles. This test can help identify issues with the auditory nerve or other neurological concerns that might affect hearing.

Knowing about the most common hearing tests can demystify the process and help you feel more prepared for your visit to the audiologist. If you want to learn more about hearing tests, talk schedule an appointment with an audiologist.