Now that you have learned some of the facts about hearing loss, you can take the first steps toward prevention or treatment. The following questionnaire has been adapted from a self-assessment tool created by the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Please take the time to answer each question as accurately as possible.

When To Get A Hearing Test

Most hearing loss develops gradually, so the signs are difficult to detect. Ask yourself these questions to test how you are hearing:

  1. Do people seem to mumble or speak in a softer voice more than they use to?
    YES  NO
  2. Do you feel tired or irritable after a long conversation?
    YES  NO
  3. Do you sometimes miss key words in a sentence?
    YES  NO
  4. Do you frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves?
    YES  NO
  5. Do you have difficulty understanding the conversation in a crowded room?
    YES  NO
  6. Do you often turn the volume up on the TV or radio?
    YES  NO
  7. Does background noise bother you?
    YES  NO
  8. Is it sometimes hard to hear the conversation on the telephone?
    YES  NO
  9. Do you sometimes not hear the doorbell or telephone ring?
    YES  NO
  10. Are your family or friends complaining about your hearing?
    YES  NO

If you answered YES to two or more of these questions, you may want to schedule a hearing test by a doctor of audiology. Through testing, an audiologist can tell you whether you have a hearing loss as well as its nature and extent. If a hearing loss is detected, an appropriate course of action will be recommended.

Basic Hearing Tests
A basic hearing test is performed in a quiet area (preferably a Sound Booth) with an audiometer, a device that produces various pitch sounds (frequencies) at different levels (intensities). The person responds to the sounds by either raising his/her hand or pushing a button. Results are then charted on an audiogram, which gives the audiologist an indication of whether hearing is within normal limits or if a problem may exist. If a hearing loss is detected, more testing can be performed to better define the nature and extent and possible cause of the hearing loss. Click here to learn more about hearing tests at our office location in Bethlehem.