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Author: Daniel Berry
 Audiologists
specialize in hearing loss and related disorders. If you’re suffering from
hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), your doctor might refer you to
an audiologist for a complete evaluation. Let’s take a look at what you can
expect from an audiology examination.
When you arrive at the audiologist’s office, you’ll be asked several questions
about your medical history and your hearing loss. Your answers will help
the audiologist become familiar with your needs, formulate a treatment plan, and
make referrals if necessary.
Next, the audiologist will perform a physical examination of your ear using a
tool called an otoscope. This tool allows the doctor to peer inside your ear
canal to check for excessive wax, blockages, infection, or irregularities that
need to be addressed.
Once the physical exam is done, the audiologist will conduct a tympanometry
test. During this test, the audiologist uses a probe to determine how your
eardrum responds to a change of pressure inside the ear. It’s a painless test
that helps identify problems which would decrease the eardrum’s flexibility,
such as infection or fluid build-up.
After the tympanometry test, the audiologist will administer an audiometry test.
This test evaluates how well you can hear different tones at different volumes.
First you’ll listen to sounds through a pair of headphones. Then the doctor will
put a bone vibrator behind your ear to determine how well your inner ear
conducts sounds. The results of the testing will tell the audiologist whether
you have conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, or a mixture of
both.
When all the testing is complete, the audiologist will explain the results to
you. They will make a recommendation based on their findings. Then you can ask
any questions you have regarding your treatment plan.
Some of the tones you hear during the audiometry test might be uncomfortable for
a brief time, but audiology exams are generally painless and very useful for
diagnosing and treating your hearing problems.
For answers to your hearing loss questions and to learn more about Bay Area
hearing loss treatments, contact the skilled Los Gatos audiologist at Los Gatos
Audiology and Hearing Aid Center.
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