Vancouver Hearing Test Options Plentiful
If you live in Vancouver, hearing test options are plentiful. Do you say "huh" or "what" to family and friends because you can't always hear what they are saying? Do you strain to hear the television even though the volume control shows it is maxed out? Does your child or other loved one seem not to hear you when you are speaking? A hearing test from a licensed audiologist can be an important step in determining whether you have a true hearing problem.
An audiologist is not a medical doctor although they are well-versed in a number of medical study disciplines such as neurology, physiology and anatomy. This broad scientific background coupled with knowledge of sign language, acoustics, tinnitus, behavioral psychology, speech pathology, hearing aids and cochlear implants help them form diagnosis of hearing issues along with the specialized hearing tests.
Types of Hearing Tests
The audiogram is often the first type of hearing test most audiologists will perform. Placed in a soundproof room, specially calibrated equipment is used to test hearing. You have to place earphones over your ears and the audiologist plays tones into each ear at various decibels. The lowest level of sound you can hear is recorded.
Another common hearing test entails tympanometry. It involves placing a probe in your ear which then introduces light air pressure inside. This test gauges the pressure within your middle ear as well as the conductivity of the bones inside and the mobility or vibration ability of the eardrum. This diagnostic check identifies fluid build-up, issues with the bones in the middle ear and other conditions.
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The Weber and Rinne test evaluates the conductivity of the bones in your ear. A tuning fork is positioned behind the ear while vibrating and then placed in front of the ear. Ideally, you should be able to hear or feel the vibration both behind your ear and in front of it. If you cannot hear it in front, this may be a sign of conductive hearing loss. The tuning fork is also placed on your forehead. In an ideal situation, you should be able to hear or feel the vibration in the center of the head. However, if you hear it more in one ear over the other, this will help determine whether you might have a sensory or neural problem.
The BERA hearing test, or brainstem evoked response audiometry involves placing electrodes on the head and then playing sounds in the ear. The electrodes record the responses from the brainstem. This test helps definitively differentiate inner ear problems from nerve related hearing issues.
With your audiologist in Vancouver, hearing test options may include some speech tests since hearing and speaking have a close relationship. There are also tests for tinnitus as well. Because the ear is such a complex part of the body, medical diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRI screenings may be required to look for physical causes of hearing loss.
Trust your hearing to a well-trained, licensed audiologist. If you live in Vancouver, hearing test options are readily available so take the first step in preserving your hearing and make an appointment.