The Hearing Assessment

If you feel that you would like to have your hearing tested, you can call us on 01494 733840 to make an appointment, with or without a medical referral.   The initial consultation is free of charge and will last between 60 – 90 minutes.

The initial consultation

The initial consultation will involve our audiologist taking a short aural medical history and then examine your ears and auditory canals.  We use a video otoscope which gives you the opportunity to look in your own ear canals.  Following the visual examination, we proceed to the hearing test.

The hearing test

The hearing test element of the assessment is carried out in a sound-treated booth.    We test the ears individually using an air conduction method via headphones whereby we play a series of pure or warbled tones directly into the outer ear.  A number of different frequencies (pitch) are presented at different intensities (volumes).  The aim of this test is to establish the very quietest tone you can hear at each frequencies (Hz) which range from 250Hz (low) up to 8000Hz (high).    The quietest tone heard by each ear is recorded on an audiogram chart at each frequency range.  These results are known as air conduction (ac).

You can see an example and explanation of the audiogram chart in The Audiogram Explained.

The Bone Conduction (bc) Test

The next stage of the consultation is the bone conduction (bc) test.    A small sound producing box is placed behind the ear this enables sound to be transferred through the mastoid bone to the inner ear  by passing the ear canal.    Once the box is in place, tones are conducted at varying intensity levels and mid-range frequencies (500Hz to 2000Hz), until the quietest tone is established.

Both test results will establish any similarities or differences between the two testing methods and allow us to establish if the hearing problems are sensorineural (in the inner ear), conductive or a combination of both.  For further explanation of these results, go to Types of Hearing Loss section.

The Tympanogram

Once we have accurate bone and air conduction results for both ears we carry out a test called a tympanogram, which measures the function of the middle ear and the eardrum.   On successful completion of the assessment we will explain the results and discuss the options available to you.  If the results highlight a need for medical referral we will complete a report that will be sent to your GP and / or ENT consultant for further investigation.   At the end of the initial consultation we provide you with a copy of your personal audiogram and we keep a copy of your notes on file, which can be referred to for comparison at any point in the future.