When a Hearing Test Needs Further Checks
Most people have a hearing test as a first step to determine if they have any hearing loss. The results of a standard hearing test can then be used by your audiologist to form a conclusion or to recommend a course of action. However, there are occasions when the results of your hearing test may raise a few questions that need further investigation before any decisions are made. This is nothing to worry about as it is just part of the thorough check that your audiologist is undertaking.
Checking Middle Ear Pressure
Tympanometry – This test looks at the mobility of your eardrum by altering the air pressure in your ear canal. The test takes about 1 minute to complete and involves a probe tip being gently placed in your ear canal. If we have found that you have a conductive hearing loss (you are not hearing sound that is travelling through your ear) then this test will give us more information as to why this is.
Testing Bone Conduction
A bone conduction test involves a small vibrator that is placed behind the ear. This transmits sound to the inner ear. The results of bone conduction tests enable the audiologist to establish whether any hearing loss is caused by a problem in the outer or middle ear or if the problem is with the inner ear. This will then dictate the correct course of action for the individual.
Assessing Speech in Background Noise
The pure tone results from a hearing test do not always enable the audiologist to gain an accurate impression of how you actually cope in daily life. A speech-in-noise assessment includes played words or sentences in background noise and gives the audiologist a much better indication of how you cope in real life. It is not uncommon for people who gain good results in the test room to have great difficulty in noisy situations and this may influence the type of hearing aid that would be recommended for you.
A Referral to Your GP or ENT
However, if your hearing test reveals a medical problem with your hearing, such as sudden hearing loss, uneven hearing between the two ears, or other symptoms including tinnitus and balance problems then your audiologist will refer you to your GP or ENT specialist. For more information about what the different hearing tests involve, see the NHS website.
There is more on Hearing Test Bristol at //www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/bristol.
Further tests are not bad news, they are just that the Audiologist is being cautious and wants to double check something to ensure the best possible treatment.
