What happens at a hearing test?
Before an audiologist conducts a hearing exam, she’ll measure the mobility of your child’s eardrums in a test known as a tympanometry. The audiologist will apply air pressure in your child’s ear with a soft plastic-tip device to find out if she has fluid in her middle ear or a malfunctioning eustachian tube, which would skew the results of a hearing test. This procedure is quick, easy, and painless. Audiologists are searching for the lowest level at which a child can hear speech and tones, and checking movement of the eardrums and acoustic reflexes. Grade-schoolers will also be asked to repeat some words back to the audiologist. The best test for some 6-year-olds may still be a behavioral test called conditioned play audiometry. (Audiologists refer to this test as “Play.”). In a Play evaluation, your child wears a headset and sits on her own with a bucket on her lap in a soundproofed room. You’ll be close by, though, to offer comfort and alleviate any fear. The audiologist will ask you
Behavioral testing (a conditioned play audiometry test is one type) is the test of choice because it verifies that sound is traveling throughout the entire ear — and it’s fun for kids to do. Before an audiologist conducts a hearing exam, though, she’ll measure the mobility of your child’s eardrums in a test known as a tympanometry. The audiologist will apply air pressure in the ear canal with a soft plastic-tip device to find out whether your child has fluid in his middle ear or a malfunctioning eustachian tube, which would skew the results of a hearing test. This procedure is quick, easy, and painless. Audiologists are searching for the softest level at which a child can hear speech and tones, and checking movement of the eardrums and acoustic reflexes. Kindergartners will also be asked to repeat some words (cowboy, hotdog) back to the audiologist. An audiologist will usually try a conditioned play audiometry test next. (Audiologists refer to this test as “Play.”). In a Play evaluatio
So you think you have a hearing loss but you have white coat syndrome and are afraid of doctors. Theres no need to be afraid of taking a hearing test. You wont be poked with needles or asked to strip off your clothes! A hearing test is simple, has no risks and causes no discomfort. You wont be given any prescriptions to have filled either. You can usually have one at any hearing aid dispenser or you can be referred by your doctor. It takes place in an acoustic testing chamber specially designed to eliminate outside noise. Before starting the test your audiologist will check to make sure you dont have a build up of wax in your ears which could hinder you hearing sound correctly. Your ready to go and the audiologist places old fashioned, full ear head phones over both your ears – the kind with soft padding which sits on your head, the big round ear pieces covering your ears fully. First of all you will have an acoustic test which tests the level of sound you are hearing. Your audiologist
