If you’re scheduling your first hearing evaluation, it’s normal to feel a little unsure about what will happen. The good news? A hearing evaluation is comfortable, noninvasive and designed to give you clear answers about your hearing health.
At Gary D. Schwartzberg, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology, we believe that informed patients feel more confident and empowered. This step-by-step guide walks you through exactly what to expect during a professional hearing evaluation, from the moment you arrive to reviewing your results.
Why Hearing Evaluations Matter
Hearing loss often develops gradually, making it easy to miss early signs. A comprehensive hearing evaluation helps:
- Identify hearing loss early
- Determine the type and degree of hearing loss
- Establish a baseline for future comparisons
- Guide personalized treatment options
Untreated hearing loss will continue to progress and negatively impact quality of life in a number of ways. Don’t ignore those early warning signs.
Step 1: Check-In and Paperwork
When you arrive at the office, you’ll be welcomed by our front desk team and asked to complete a few forms. These typically include:
- Medical and hearing history
- Current symptoms (hearing difficulty, ringing, dizziness, etc.)
- Noise exposure (work, hobbies, military service)
- Medications that may affect hearing
Pro tip: Bring a list of medications, previous hearing test results (if applicable) and your hearing insurance information.
Step 2: Consultation and Hearing Health Discussion
Before any testing begins, your audiologist will sit down with you to talk about:
- Your hearing concerns
- When you first noticed changes
- The information from your check-in forms (e.g., medical history and noise exposure)
- Situations where hearing feels most challenging (restaurants, phone calls, TV, meetings)
- Lifestyle needs and communication goals
This conversation helps us understand how hearing loss impacts your daily life, not just what the test results show on paper.
Step 3: Visual Ear Examination
Next, your audiologist will perform a visual inspection of your ears using an otoscope. This allows us to:
- Check for earwax buildup
- Look for signs of infection or inflammation
- Ensure the ear canal is clear for testing
Sometimes, hearing issues are caused by reversible conditions such as impacted cerumen (earwax), which can significantly affect hearing.
Step 4: Hearing Testing
This is the part most people imagine when they think of a hearing test. There are a number of tests we could perform to determine your individual hearing needs, and which ones we perform will depend on what we discuss and what your symptoms are. Two common ones are:
- Pure-tone audiometry. You’ll be taken into a sound-treated booth and asked to wear headphones. During the test, you’ll hear tones at different pitches and volumes and indicate when you hear a sound. Each ear is tested separately. These results show the softest sounds you can hear at various frequencies.
- Tympanometry, or middle ear testing. This test evaluates how well your eardrum and middle ear function. During this test, a soft tip is placed in the ear and is used to identify issues such as fluid behind the eardrum, Eustachian tube dysfunction or eardrum mobility problems. You may feel slight pressure, but no pain with this test.
- Speech understanding. Hearing isn’t just about detecting sounds; it’s about understanding speech. Speech testing may include repeating words at different volumes and testing how clearly you understand speech in the presence of background noise. This step is especially important for determining real-world hearing challenges and guiding treatment recommendations.
Step 5: Review of Results (Audiogram Explanation)
Once testing is complete, your audiologist will review the results with you in clear, easy-to-understand terms. You’ll learn:
- Whether hearing loss is present
- The type (conductive, sensorineural or mixed)
- The degree (mild to profound)
- Which frequencies are affected
We take the time to explain what your results mean for daily communication at home, at work and socially.
Step 6: Personalized Recommendations
If hearing loss is identified, your audiologist will discuss individualized treatment options, which may include:
- Hearing aids
- Assistive listening devices
- Communication strategies
If your hearing is within normal limits, you’ll still receive valuable guidance and recommendations for ongoing monitoring and hearing protection.
Step 7: Next Steps and Follow-Up Care
Before you leave, we’ll help you plan next steps, such as:
- Scheduling a hearing aid consultation or fitting
- Setting up follow-up care
- Establishing a future recheck schedule
Hearing care is a journey, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
A hearing evaluation is the first step toward clearer communication and improved quality of life. Whether this is your first test or your tenth, you can expect thorough care, compassionate guidance, and honest answers. Call us today to make an appointment.