An audiology appointment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess the function of your auditory system and determine the presence or extent of hearing difficulties. The process is conducted by an audiologist, a highly trained healthcare professional who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing hearing and balance disorders. These specialists hold a doctoral degree in audiology (Au.D.) and use specialized tests to measure how well you hear and process sounds. The goal of this visit is to establish a detailed, measurable understanding of your specific hearing health profile.
Preparing for the Appointment and Initial History
The appointment begins with administrative preparation and a detailed case history discussion before any physical testing starts. It is helpful to bring a list of all current medications, as some drugs are known to be ototoxic and can affect hearing or balance. Providing a copy of any previous hearing test results or relevant medical records can streamline the evaluation process.
The audiologist conducts a thorough verbal consultation, asking specific questions regarding your symptoms, such as how long you have noticed a hearing change and whether the onset was sudden or gradual. This history intake also covers lifestyle factors, including noise exposure from work or hobbies, and any family history of hearing loss. Understanding these details provides the context for interpreting the upcoming test results.
Core Diagnostic Hearing Procedures
After the initial discussion, the audiologist will perform a visual inspection of your ear canal and eardrum using an otoscope to check for blockages or physical anomalies. The core testing then begins in a sound-treated booth to eliminate outside interference. The most common test is pure-tone audiometry, which measures the softest sound you can hear, known as your hearing threshold, across a range of frequencies (pitches).
During this test, you will wear headphones and listen to a series of beeps, or pure tones, at different volumes. You will be instructed to indicate every time you hear a sound, even a very faint one, usually by pressing a button or raising your hand. This process is performed for each ear separately and measures how sound travels through the air (air conduction). If a loss is detected, a bone conduction test is performed using a small vibrator placed behind the ear on the mastoid bone. This second measure determines if the hearing loss originates in the inner ear (sensorineural) or the outer/middle ear (conductive).
Speech audiometry evaluates your ability to hear and understand spoken words. This involves measuring the Speech Reception Threshold (SRT), the softest level at which you can correctly repeat simple words. The audiologist also measures Word Recognition Scores (WRS) by asking you to repeat single-syllable words presented at a comfortable listening level. This percentage score helps assess the clarity of your hearing, which is important for real-world communication.
Tympanometry is an objective test that assesses the function of your middle ear, including the eardrum and the tiny bones that transmit sound. A small probe is placed in the ear canal to gently change the air pressure. This allows the audiologist to measure how well the eardrum is moving, which can detect fluid buildup, eardrum stiffness, or issues with the eustachian tube. Some appointments may also include Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) testing, which measures sounds produced by the healthy outer hair cells of the inner ear (cochlea).
Interpreting the Audiogram and Next Steps
Once the diagnostic procedures are complete, the audiologist will review the findings with you, which are graphically represented on a chart called an audiogram. The audiogram plots the softest sounds you heard (your thresholds) across various pitches. The horizontal axis represents frequency, or pitch, measured in Hertz (Hz), ranging from low to high.
The vertical axis represents the loudness or intensity of the sound, measured in decibels (dB), with softer sounds near the top and louder sounds toward the bottom. By analyzing the plotted symbols for each ear, the audiologist can identify the degree of hearing loss, ranging from slight to profound, and classify its type. This visual representation serves as the report card of your hearing function.
Based on the audiogram and speech test results, the audiologist will explain the diagnosis, detailing how your hearing compares to normal limits. The consultation phase then shifts to outlining recommended management options. These next steps may involve monitoring the hearing over time, consulting with a physician for a medical condition, or discussing treatment solutions such as hearing aids or assistive listening devices.