Normal hearing is a complex sense, and from a scientific point of view, it is quite fascinating. Sound is created when an object vibrates or moves rapidly. These movements displace the surrounding air and create acoustic pressure waves. Your ears pick up this stimulus, which your brain then interprets as sound.
The process of hearing is so complex that an entire medical discipline is dedicated to it: audiology. An audiologist is a trained professional specializing in hearing, ear pathologies, and ear anatomy.
One of the most useful examinations they have is audiometry. This is what most people simply call a hearing test: seemingly simple, yet it provides a considerable amount of valuable information for diagnosing and understanding specific hearing disorders.
Here is an overview of audiometry: what it is, when it is performed, and everything you need to know about a hearing test.
The Audiometry Test
When one thinks of a hearing test, it is most often the audiometry test that comes to mind. Audiometry is the most common diagnostic examination in audiology, and this is no coincidence. Not only does it determine if you are suffering from hearing loss, but it also reveals what types of sounds you have difficulty perceiving.
The first audiometer was invented in 1899 by Carl Seashore. Since then, the device has become an indispensable part of hearing diagnosis and screening, and a major asset for audiology.
Here are more details about audiometry and what to expect.
The Audiometer
An audiometry test is performed using a device called an audiometer. This is a specific device that allows the practitioner to transmit sounds at different intensities through headphones. The device is relatively simple, and the results are generally presented in the form of a very readable graph.
How is an audiometry test performed?
An audiometry test is usually performed in a quiet or soundproofed room. The audiologist typically begins by explaining the procedure: for example, they will ask you to raise your hand as soon as you hear a sound in the headphones.
You will be asked to wear headphones, and then a series of pure tones will be played at different volumes. The audiologist notes whether or not you heard each sound, and at the end of the test, they have a good understanding of your hearing abilities and reflexes.
If you only hear the sound in your right ear, raise your right hand. Conversely, if you only hear it in your left ear, raise your left hand.
Keep these key points in mind:
Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB). If you cannot hear pure tones below 25 dB, you probably have hearing loss. The pitch of a sound is measured in cycles per second (hertz/Hz).
The Results
As mentioned above, the results of an audiometry test are presented in graph form. This graph is perfectly clear to the audiologist, but it may be a little confusing to an untrained eye.
Generally, the graph has two curves representing the hearing ability of each ear. The horizontal axis most often corresponds to the frequency of the sounds played, commonly referred to as tones.
The vertical axis is usually expressed in decibels, which is the measurement of sound intensity. The curves represent your hearing threshold for each ear. Anything above the curve is outside your hearing threshold; anything below is perceived.
Mild hearing loss is between 41 and 55 dB
Moderate hearing loss is around 56 to 70 dB
Severe hearing loss is between 71 and 90 dB
Profound hearing loss (deafness) exceeds 90 dB
When is this test performed?
Since audiometry is easy to perform and non-invasive, it is performed at almost every visit to the audiologist. The question remains how often one should consult for a hearing check-up.
Here are the current recommendations in detail according to your age group:
Childhood
One might not necessarily imagine that a child needs a hearing test, but many hearing disorders actually appear in early childhood. Auditory neuropathy, recurrent otitis media, or ear developmental anomalies can all affect children.
Hearing problems can be particularly consequential in children, as they are going through a period where they are developing and learning at an impressive rate. Undiagnosed hearing loss in childhood can lead to academic difficulties and language disorders.
Children often undergo a speech discrimination test or a word recognition test. For younger children, the practitioner may use play audiometry or visual reinforcement audiometry, often with the help of toys.
One of the developments in audiometry in recent decades has been its use in school screenings. The aim of these screenings is to detect these childhood hearing disorders early and to offer treatment that restores hearing and allows the child to catch up.
School-aged children should have a hearing test about every two years. This helps to check that their hearing is in good condition and that no developments suggest a problem.
Adulthood
Once an adult, it's easy to forget routine medical check-ups, even though they are essential for timely care. This mainly concerns the annual health check-up, but it's also important to have your hearing checked regularly.
According to the American Speech-Hearing Association, even if you do not suspect any hearing disorder, you should have a test at least every ten years until about age 50. These regular checks help detect any decrease in hearing and offer quick management, such as the use of hearing aids or reduced noise exposure.
Seniors
After age 50, the recommendation changes from once per decade to once every two or three years. The main reason: the frequency of hearing loss increases with age. It can result from accumulated noise exposure over the years, an increased risk of earwax impaction, or simply aging.
Maintaining good hearing in old age is an essential element of quality of life. It helps reduce social isolation, communicate effectively, and enjoy enriching experiences beneficial to emotional and mental well-being.
Hearing Aids
The primary objective of an audiometry test is to assess your hearing abilities. Hearing assistance devices may be offered to you when these are below the expected threshold.
The most widely used device for treating hearing loss remains the hearing aid. A hearing aid essentially works like an amplifier: it captures sounds below your hearing threshold and increases their volume to an intensity you can perceive.
Even though millions of people worldwide wear hearing aids, they often still cost a fortune. Here's an overview of CLARIA hearing aids and what makes them one of the best options on the market.
CLARIA vs. the rest of the market
The hearing aid market is vast. It is full of overpriced options, almost inaccessible to ordinary people, or cheap but impractical options to use.
Add to that the fact that many people looking for hearing aids live on fixed incomes, such as retirement, and the problem becomes clear.
CLARIA is a hearing aid company that challenges these habits and offers very high-quality devices at a very affordable price. The EV1 is a perfect example.
The EV1 is a hearing aid under one hundred dollars, with many features: speech amplification, background noise reduction, in-ear format, and rechargeable batteries. Elsewhere, a device with comparable features would cost you much more.
CLARIA also cares about your satisfaction: that's why we offer a 45-day return period, giving you time to adapt to your devices and ensure they fully suit you. In summary, CLARIA is shaking up the industry and making quality hearing aids more accessible.
The first step
The audiometry test is the examination used by the audiologist to assess your hearing abilities. It allows them to know which ear is affected, which sounds you have difficulty perceiving, and your precise degree of hearing loss.
It is a routine examination during almost all consultations with an audiologist, as it is simple and non-constraining. For children and people over 50, the current recommendation is a hearing test every two or three years. For adults under 50, it is at least one test per decade.
Sources
CARL EMIL SEASHORE | National Academy of Science
Childhood Hearing Screening | ASHA
Hearing Screening | ASHA
