What to expect during a hearing test: a step-by-step-guide

July 19, 2024

What do I need to do to prepare? What do I have to bring? How long will it take? Can I bring someone? Will it hurt?

We know as well as anyone, the biggest obstacle to anything is the fear of the unknown. So let's squash all that right here!

Before the appointment:

• Book an appointment - although we are happy to get you in as soon as possible, we do not want to rush a hearing test.  Be sure to call ahead and book your appointment.  This also allows us the opportunity to answer any specific questions you may have. Hearing test appointments are booked for 1 hour.  The test itself will not take the full hour but we need to allow time for understanding your situation, explaining your results, answering questions, and discussing hearing aid options (should that be a suggested next step).
• Invite support - depending on your situation, it might be good to bring a family member or friend for support.
• Documentation - upon arrival, you will be required to fill out intake and consent forms.  You will need your Alberta Health Care Number (PHN) if you have one.  If applicable, a Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) claim number or Veterans (DVA) K number can also apply.
• Cost - our hearing tests are free. Should you need a report or copy for yourself, your doctor, or an application, please let the administrator know during booking to understand any additional charges and what you might need to bring with you.

The appointment:

• Forms - upon arrival you will be filling out an intake form with your information as well as a consent form. The information provided will allow us to verify any additional third party funding should hearing aids be discussed. 
• Case History - the hearing aid practitioner will bring you into the testing room to discuss what brought you here, your concerns, your needs, and any other necessary health information.
• Otoscopy - prior to commencing the hearing test, the hearing aid practitioner will use an otoscope to look into your ear canal and ensure there are no concerns and that your eardrum is visible.
• Hearing test - assuming the otoscopy is acceptable, you will be brought into a sound booth. Foam inserts are placed in your ears and a button is placed in your hand. Eventually a headband is also placed on your head for other testing. The hearing aid practitioner and client can see each other and communicate throughout the test should there be any questions or concerns. The client will hear things like beeps, wind noise, words and phrases to determine their hearing thresholds.  These tests are specially designed to root out any inconsistencies in a client’s responses. These tests can also be adapted to accommodate any unique needs of the client such as language barriers, physical challenges, and mental challenges. 
• Tympanometry - the hearing aid practitioner performs what is called tympanometry.  This test produces air pressure into the ear canal (brief and not painful) to determine the functionality of the individual's ears canal and ear drum.
• Evaluation - at this point, the hearing aid practitioner will go over the results of the test(s), how they work together, and how they connect to any concerns the client may have voiced initially.  
• Recommendations - should the client have a hearing loss that would benefit from hearing aids, the hearing aid practitioner would discuss their recommendations and options at this time.  Hearing aid choices are vast and depend on the individual’s hearing loss, physical needs, lifestyle needs, and budget. If there are any outliers with the test results, the hearing aid practitioner may suggest the client see their family physician.  If the client is not ready or would not benefit enough from hearing aids at that time, we would simply make a note to contact them again in the future to re-test and evaluate any changes.   

A hearing test is a critical first step in your hearing health journey. You should be made to feel heard and leave with a good understanding of your test results. The steps taken throughout a hearing test are based on best practices expected of any hearing health care professional (you will find a similar explanation by Alberta Health Services).

Contact us for your free, no obligation hearing test today. There is no time like the present!

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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.