Comprehensive Hearing Tests in West Monroe, LA
A comprehensive hearing evaluation includes both pure-tone and speech audiometry. Audiometry (or pure-tone audiometry) is the most common type of hearing test. It is a simple test that provides a detailed picture of your hearing ability across different pitches and volumes.
Listening to tones is one thing, but understanding speech is another. Through a type of hearing test known as speech audiometry, we evaluate your ability to recognize and understand spoken language in different listening environments.
In the pure-tone portion of the test, the results are plotted on an audiogram, showing the degree, type, and configuration of hearing loss. The audiogram indicates how much louder (in decibels) the pure tone frequency must be for you to hear it compared to the level required by the average population.
The speech audiometry portion examines how loud speech must be and how well you can understand words. If you struggle to repeat them, it suggests you have trouble understanding speech. Hearing isn’t just about volume – it’s about clarity. Even mild hearing loss can impair speech understanding in everyday life. Speech audiometry helps identify how hearing loss affects your communication.
What to Expect
The test takes place in a quiet place with headphones to ensure greater accuracy.
- For the audiometry portion, you’ll listen to a series of tones at different frequencies between 125 and 8000 Hz.
- Sounds are played at gradually softer levels until you can no longer hear them.
- For the speech audiometry portion, the hearing care professional will record the softest speech you are able to hear and correctly repeat.
- You may also need to repeat words that you can understand at louder levels to test word recognition.
Care and Treatment
A comprehensive hearing test helps identify the type and severity of your hearing loss to ensure you receive the right treatment – and repeating the testing at regular intervals over time allows tracking of changes, so your hearing care stays current.
Depending on your results, we may:
- Recommend a hearing aid, monitoring, or further testing. If you already use a hearing aid, we may adjust the fitting or settings if needed while you are here.
- Recommend assistive listening devices or provide training for noisy environments.
- Help implement communication strategies and therapies.
Ready to test your hearing?
Call 318-351-2213 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at West Monroe Hearing Healthcare Center today.