Subjective Hearing Testing

Subjective hearing testing

In the subjective test, in order to determine a potential hearing loss, the cooperation of the patient is required. Usually, noises, sounds or words are played and a specific reaction sought. From the results of various tests, your ear, nose and throat doctor or audiologist can determine whether you have a conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss.

Pure tone audiometry

It takes place in a sound-attenuated room and requires your active participation. Your doctor or Hearing Care Professional plays you varying tones in varying loudness through headphones. As soon as you hear a sound you make a sign, generally by pressing a button. The volume at which you have heard the tone for the first time, in conjunction with the corresponding frequencies (pitches), is recorded in the audiogram.

Speech Testing

In conjunction with pure tone audiometry. Your Hearing Care Professional may also test your ability to hear and understand speech either in quiet or in noise. The results of speech testing pure tone audiometry are used in together to determine your candidacy for hearing instruments, or other methods of intervention.