Hearing Test
A hearing test, or audiological evaluation, is a clinical assessment of how well a person hears sounds across a range of frequencies and intensities. A standard adult hearing test includes pure tone audiometry (the person listens through headphones and responds when they detect tones at different pitches and volumes), bone conduction testing (which assesses inner ear function directly), and speech audiometry (which evaluates how well the person understands speech at different volumes).
Additional tests such as tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and speech-in-noise testing may be included depending on the presenting concern. Results are plotted on an audiogram. A comprehensive hearing test is conducted in a sound-treated room by a registered audiologist.
In Canada, there is no universal adult hearing screening program, so many adults do not have their hearing tested until noticeable difficulty has already developed. A baseline hearing test is recommended before significant noise exposure and periodically for adults over 50 as part of routine health monitoring.
