A closer look
at your hearing.
A professional hearing assessment helps build a clearer picture of how well you hear and how different parts of the hearing system may be functioning. The appointment usually combines conversation, ear checks, hearing tests and an explanation of the results.
What Happens in a Hearing Test?
A Hearing Test Is More Than Listening for Beeps
A hearing test is tailored to the person rather than being a single test for everyone. An audiologist may ask about your hearing and medical history, examine the ears and use several tests to understand hearing sensitivity, middle-ear function and, where appropriate, speech understanding.
Your Hearing History
The audiologist asks about hearing concerns, communication difficulties, ear symptoms, noise exposure and relevant medical history.
Ear & Hearing Checks
The ears may be examined and tests may be used to understand hearing sensitivity and middle-ear function.
Results & Guidance
The findings are explained so you can understand what they mean and whether any follow-up or support may be appropriate.
What May Be Checked?
The tests used depend on your age, symptoms and reason for assessment.
Different tests answer different questions. Some measure the softest sounds you can hear, while others examine how the middle ear is functioning or how clearly speech is understood. Not every person needs every test, and assessments for children are adapted to their age and developmental level.
A hearing assessment can help
answer important questions
A Typical Hearing Test
The exact appointment varies, but the pathway is usually straightforward.
Discuss Your Hearing
The appointment begins with a conversation about what you have noticed, when difficulties occur and any relevant ear-health or medical history.
Check the Ears
The audiologist may look into the ear canal and at the eardrum to identify visible factors that could affect testing or require further attention.
Test Your Hearing
You may listen to tones through headphones or earphones and respond when you hear them. Additional tests may assess middle-ear function or speech understanding where appropriate.
Explain the Results
The audiologist reviews the findings with you, explains the hearing pattern and discusses appropriate next steps, which may include monitoring, hearing support or medical referral.
History
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Ear Check
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Hearing Tests
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Results
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Next Steps
Understanding Common Tests
Pure-Tone Audiometry
You listen for tones at different pitches and levels. This helps identify the softest sounds you can hear across the frequencies tested.
Tympanometry
This test measures how the eardrum and middle-ear system respond to a gentle change in air pressure. It can provide information about middle-ear function.
Speech Testing
Depending on the assessment, speech tests may be used to explore how well speech is detected or understood under particular test conditions.
Other Tests
Additional tests may be selected when clinically appropriate, including tests of cochlear or auditory pathway function. Children may receive age-appropriate behavioural or objective tests.
Concerned about your child’s hearing?
If something about your child’s listening, speech or response to sound concerns you, an age-appropriate hearing assessment can help provide clarity.