Hearing Tests for Adults

Hearing tests measure how well you are able to hear. They can help diagnose hearing loss, how severe it is, and which part of your hearing isn't working properly. Hearing depends on a series of steps that change sound waves into electrical signals that your brain understands as sounds.

Hearing loss happens where there's a problem with any of these steps: Sound waves enter your outer ear and travel to your eardrum in your middle ear.; The sound waves vibrate your eardrum, which sends the vibrations to tiny bones that make the vibrations stronger.; The vibrating bones make tiny waves in the fluid that's inside your cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in your inner ear. It is lined with sensory cells that have hair-like structures.

When the hair cells move with the fluid waves, they create electrical signals.; Your auditory (hearing) nerve carries the electrical signals from your inner ear to your brain, which turns them into sounds you can recognize and understand.; There are three main types of hearing loss: Conductive hearing loss happens when sound waves can't reach your inner ear. Earwax or abnormal fluid in your ear may be blocking the path, or a hole in your eardrum may prevent it from vibrating. Medical treatment or surgery can often improve hearing.; Sensorineural hearing loss (also called nerve deafness) happens when there's damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve.

This type of hearing loss ranges from mild (difficulty hearing certain sounds) to profound (not hearing any sound). The hearing loss is usually permanent, but it can improve with hearing aids or other devices.; Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.; Hearing loss in older adults is common. About one-third of adults over the age of 65 have some hearing loss, usually the sensorineural type.

If you are diagnosed with hearing loss, there are steps you can take that may help treat or manage the condition.

Why this test is done

You may need a hearing test if you have signs of hearing loss, such as:

• Having trouble hearing over the phone
• Having trouble understanding what other people are saying, especially in a noisy environment
• Needing to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain
• Thinking that others always seem to mumble
• Having trouble hearing high-pitched sounds and voices
• Hearing a ringing or other unusual sound in your ears (tinnitus)

If your workplace is noisy, you may need to have your hearing checked every year.

If you use a hearing aid or had surgery for your hearing, you may need a hearing test to see whether your hearing has improved.

How to prepare

You don't need any special preparations for a hearing test.

Other names for this test

audiometry; audiography, audiogram, sound test, audiologic tests