More than 15% of adults in the United States experience some degree of hearing loss. If you often miss the sound of your phone ringing or struggle to understand the happy hour chatter at Crafted Kitchen and Taps, it might be time to consider a hearing test.
Audiologists use a few tests to assess your hearing. You’re likely familiar with pure tone-testing, wherein you wear headphones, listen to a series of beeps at different pitches and volumes and indicate when you hear them. While pure tone testing is the most common, speech testing is another essential tool audiologists use to identify how you hear and understand noise.
The Speech Testing Process
During your audiology visit, you’ll undergo speech tests to assess your hearing abilities in different scenarios. While tests may vary depending on the patient and audiologist, standard methods include speech reception threshold, word recognition and speech-in-noise testing. The speech reception threshold (SRT) test measures the quietest level at which you can hear and comprehend speech. In this test, the audiologist will play words through headphones, and you’ll repeat them back, helping to determine your baseline hearing threshold.
Next, the word recognition test evaluates how clearly you can understand speech at a comfortable volume. You’ll listen to a list of words and repeat them, allowing the audiologist to assess the clarity and accuracy of your hearing.
Finally, the speech-in-noise test gauges your ability to comprehend speech amidst background noise. During this test, you’ll hear both speech and noise simultaneously and repeat the words you understand. This test is instrumental in understanding how well you can function in noisy environments. Together, these tests provide a comprehensive picture of your hearing health and guide the audiologist in recommending the best course of action.
Hearing Loss Treatment Options
Your audiologist will interpret the results following speech testing to identify the best treatment. If the tests indicate hearing loss, they may recommend hearing aids to amplify sound, helping you better engage with the world around you. If your hearing tests are normal or you exhibit very slight loss, you likely won’t need treatment, but regular monitoring might be advised to identify further loss.
Sometimes, pure tone testing results reveal no hearing loss, but speech testing identifies difficulties in understanding speech. This condition, known as auditory processing disorder, indicates that the brain has trouble interpreting sounds. If diagnosed with APD, your audiologist might suggest speech therapy and coping strategies.
No matter the outcome of your hearing tests, our team is here to support you. Contact Today’s Hearing today to schedule a hearing assessment with one of our qualified specialists.