Hearing tests uncover more than hearing loss. Many people who have a hearing test assume that their results will be a straightforward pass or fail, but during the test a number of other useful clinical findings can be uncovered during the test.
Middle-Ear Pressure
The tympanometry test checks on the mobility of your eardrum, and can identify restricted movement, indicating possible presence of fluid in the middle ear or a blocked Eustachian tube. Although these conditions can cause hearing loss, they are often treatable.
Auditory Nerve Function
As noted above, certain hearing tests check the function of the auditory nerve by sending sound signals via the inner ear to the brain for processing. The results of these tests can highlight whether the signals are reaching the brain correctly. If not, this could indicate that the individual has suffered from an episode of auditory neuropathy. Such cases require different forms of treatment than those suffering from normal hearing loss.
Cardiovascular Clues
Inner ear hair cells rely on a good blood supply and so some degree of hearing loss may be down to reduced circulation. Although not a direct cause of hearing loss, low frequency hearing loss in otherwise healthy ears suggests reduced circulation. This finding should be flagged to your GP. Hearing Test Cheltenham is worth getting right.
Cognitive Processing Difficulty
Difficulty following speech in background noise indicates an auditory processing difficulty and is not the same as hearing loss, even when recommending support therefore it is important to make this distinction.
Tinnitus Patterns
Tinnitus can be measured. The pattern of sounds that a tinnitus sufferer hears (pitch and loudness) can be plotted against frequency and a decision made whether sound therapy or another method of tinnitus management would be more suitable.
People booking a hearing test Cheltenham are surprised by the amount of health-related information found in a single session of hearing testing. A useful reference for hearing tests is www.imperialhearing.com/audiologist-near-me/cheltenham/. The results of a hearing test are recorded and an explanation given for all findings, including the results of the hearing test (audiogram).
A professional hearing assessment is considerably more than a volume check.
