Hearing Tests and Loss of Hearing
Hearing Tests
If you think you could benefit from having a hearing test then click the button below to find an independant hearing aid specialist in your area.
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Hearing tests are painless, so if you are having a hearing test there isn't anything to worry about. They check how well you can hear different types of sound - soft and loud sounds, and sounds that are high and low in pitch.
During a hearing test, or Audiometric hearing testing as it is sometimes known, an audiometer produces sounds of different volumes and pitch. These are like low, middle and high musical notes played at different volumes. During hearing testing, you are asked to indicate, when you hear a sound in the headphones. The minimum intensity of a sound at any frequency required to create the sensation of hearing is known as the Hearing Threshold. Both ears are usually tested.
Hearing loss is measured in decibels hearing level (dBHL). A person who can hear sounds across a range of frequencies at 0 to 20 dB is considered to have normal hearing. The thresholds for the different types of hearing loss are as follows:
- Mild Hearing Loss - 25-39 dBHL
- Moderate Hearing Loss - 40-68 dBHL
- Severe Hearing Loss - 70-94 dBHL
The hearing aid audiologist might also make the sounds louder to find out the level when they become uncomfortably loud for you to listen to. This gives important information and can help with setting up your hearing aid.
The audiometric test produces a graphical picture which tells the dispenser which frequencies of sounds you find most difficult to hear - this is known as an audiogram. The audiogram is important as from the audiogram we can then recommend the best course of action to improve your hearing.
