Hearing loss affects millions of people. Fortunately, it’s a highly treatable condition. If sounds seem muffled or speech is difficult to decipher, it may be time for a hearing test. Russellville Hearing Clinic in Pope County, AR, has over 20 years of experience assisting patients of all ages. Dr. Charlie Palmer and his team explain what you can expect from your first hearing test.

Before the exam, the audiologist will ask details about your lifestyle and hearing abilities. They’ll ask about your work and how often you’re exposed to loud noises, as well as whether you spend a lot of time outdoors. They’ll also inquire about your family’s health history and whether you’ve experienced ear infections or other issues in the past. 

Initial Evaluation 

The evaluation includes a visual examination of the inner ear, air and bone conduction test, and sound discrimination testing. Sound discrimination is a combination of pure tone and speech audiometry.

To test pure tone audiometry, the doctor will speak through the headphones or speakers to deliver a sequence of tones and pitches at varying volumes. They use this to determine the softest sounds you can hear. The speech audiometry test involves listening to recorded voices. You’ll hear words and repeat them back. The doctor will evaluate your understanding and accuracy, which helps determine your ability to understand speech.