Hearing Assessment

What should you expect when you visit the audiologist for a hearing aid assessment?

Audiologists use many tools, including a face-to-face interview and a battery of audiometric tests, in order to assess an indivdual's need for hearing assistance. 

The interview may include questionnaires regarding the client's perception of his or her hearing loss, questionnaires regarding a loved one's perception of the client's hearing loss, a discussion of goals and expectations, as well as an in-depth look at the client's lifestyle, referencing the demands placed on a client's ability to listen and understand in various situations.

Also during this visit, the audiologist will take the client into a soundproof room or booth to test his or her hearing. 

 First, an otoscope will be used to look into the client's ear so the audiologist can be sure that there is a clean ear canal and healthy eardrum.  Should otoscopy, the visual inspection of the ear, reveal wax or other debris blocking the sound from traveling all the way down the ear canal, or if inflammation of the eardrum is present, a medical referral is made to an Otologist, a physician specializing in disorders of the ear or, in other words, an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor.  This referral is necessary before the hearing testing is completed due to the possibility of the test results showing decreased hearing because of wax or inflammation.

 Second, the