Explanation

A hearing test is when your doctor checks how well you can hear things. A hearing test will usually check what volumes and tones you can hear.

Why do I need one?

You may need one just so that your doctor can check that your hearing is developing properly. Your doctor may also get you to do a hearing test to check your hearing if you have been having trouble hearing.

If you are having problems hearing it may be something serious or you may just have a build up of wax or an infection in your ear. Your doctor can help you with any of these, but he or she may first need to send you for some hearing tests.

What happens before I have it?

You don't need to do anything to prepare for this test. You may need to go to an audiology clinic or to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) department at the hospital to do your hearing test.

How is it done?

Your doctor may first look inside your ears using a special instrument called an otoscope ('oto' means ear, 'scope' means to see). If he or she can't see what the problem is they may send you to have a hearing tests called an audiograph. An audiograph or audiometry is a closer look at your ears and hearing and involves lots of tests.

There are many different hearing tests. Some are only used for adults and some only for babies (you most likely had a hearing test when you were a baby - you probably don't even remember it!).

One test is called a pure tone test. An audiologist (hearing doctor) will get you to sit down and put some headphones on (these will look more like the old fashioned walkman headphones than the small iPod ones!). The headphones are connected to a machine called an audiometer. An audiometer is bit like a radio, which makes different tones at different volumes that you have to listen out for. When you hear a sound you will have to press a button or raise your hand to tell the audiologist that you heard the sound.

In a speech perception test, you will be asked to recognise words played through headphones. This test shows how well you hear words.

An audiologist may put a small tube next to your ear and then gently blow some air into your ear. This can tell the audiologist how flexible your ear drum is and if you have anything blocking your hearing. This is called a tympanometry test.

Sometimes the doctor will put something that vibrates on the bone behind your ear to see if you can hear the vibrations. This will tell him or her if there is a problem in your ear drum or middle ear.

Will it hurt?

No, hearing tests don't hurt at all.

What happens next?

The audiologist will talk to you about the results with you and let you know if you need to go for any more test or if you need to take any medication.

What if I have any other questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about hearing tests in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.