Hearing Test Santa Rosa

Hearing Test
It is estimated that as many as 40% of people over 50 experience some hearing loss. Not all types of hearing loss are permanent, but age-related is rarely temporary. At first, it becomes more difficult to hear faint or distant sounds; then, at some point, they begin to have difficulty understanding speech. Words are faint or garbled.

When someone realizes they do not hear with the acuity and volume they once did, they should take a basic hearing test, also known as an ear function evaluation, as a first step. To do this, call the hearing professionals at Audiology Associates.

In nearly every case of hearing loss, from juveniles to elderly people, we recommend a hearing test. This is the most comprehensive and accurate way to diagnose your ability to hear all kinds of sounds at various volume levels. It is noninvasive and takes anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour.

Computer diagnosis

The benefit of technological advances in hearing health is that it leaves nothing to chance. Your diagnosis of loss in each ear is graphically shown with great accuracy. This allows hearing health personnel to determine recommendations for you. Not everyone needs a hearing aid, but many people find that the devices substantially raise their quality of life.

The testing room

Most hearing tests involve wearing earphones and a small microphone to evaluate your ability to hear a range of sounds and words. As the tones become louder, not only does your response that you hear it get recorded, but an electronic signal is read by the computer detailing the reaction of your middle ear.

The vibration that enters your ear or is felt in the structure around the ear is processed by the inner ear as electrochemical instructions to the brain, which interprets the vibration as sound. A hearing test shows these results as a graph.

Additional evaluations

People lose hearing for many reasons other than age-related causes. Diseases and accidents can affect hearing ability in several ways. Swelling in the ears, bruising and bone problems all can cause hearing loss, which can be temporary or permanent. A nerve problem caused by injury or disease can cause the auditory nerve or brain to misinterpret hearing signals.

Hearing health professionals offer tests specifically designed to check for these abnormalities. Contact us today for answers to your hearing test questions.