Hearing Test
Recommendation for Screening
Age:
How often:
18-49
10 years
Age:
How often:
50+
3 years

1. What is this test?

This is a test for your hearing. An initial screening test may be a very simple procedure to see if you can hear whispers or other quiet sounds and if you can hear a vibrating tuning fork placed against the bone behind your ear. More advanced tests like the audiogram can be done to define exact nature of hearing loss.


2. Why do I need this test?

This test will determine if you have hearing loss. This may be part of the aging process or related to other disease states.


3. How is this test done?

As mentioned, the screening test is very simple and may be done with whispering or a ticking watch and a tuning fork. Sometimes a formal audiogram is conducted using earphones connected to an audiometer. Tones with specific vibration frequency and loudness are delivered to each ear separately and so that you may indicate what you can hear. This will then lead to a display of the lowest loudness levels at which you can hear various frequencies.


4. Are there any special instructions for this test?

No.


5. Risk factors
  • Age
  • Chronic ear infections
  • Punctured eardrum
  • Trauma from loud noises
  • Head injuries
  • Medications like aminoglycoside antibiotics and aspirin
  • Genetics
  • Diseases of the inner ear


Citations
  1. "Hearing Screening." American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2009. www.asha.org/public/hearing/testing#adults.
  2. "Preventative Screening Tests and Immunizations." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. March 2009. http://www.womenshealth.gov/prevention/general/part3.cfm.
  3. "Preventive Screening Tests and Immunizations." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. March 2009. http://www.womenshealth.gov/prevention/men/part2.cfm.
  4. "Audiology." MedlinePlus. A Service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. November 2009. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003341.htm.

Created: 7/2/2007
Last Modified: 3/18/2010