What You Should Know About Hearing Tests

Are you having trouble following your favorite TV show? Do you miss important details during work meetings? Losing your hearing can leave you feeling left out or confused.

At The Woodlands Hearing Center, we want to help improve your hearing. The first step is a hearing test.

A hearing test helps us check your overall hearing health. We use different methods to see how well you hear different types of sounds. This test can spot the early signs of hearing loss—even before you notice any problems. If your hearing is still normal, the test sets a baseline so we can track changes over time. After the test, we’ll talk about the best treatment plan for you. 

Hearing Tests at The Woodlands Hearing Center in The Woodlands

We offer several types of hearing tests, including:

Pure-Tone Audiometry

This is the most common hearing test. You'll wear headphones and listen to beeps at various volumes and pitches. You will indicate when you hear a sound with your hand or a button. This test identifies the quietest sounds you can hear across different frequencies.

Speech Audiometry

This test evaluates how well you understand words when spoken. You'll listen to pre-recorded individual words or full sentences at different volumes and with background noise. This measures your ability to distinguish speech from background sounds.

Tympanometry

This test measures the middle ear's function by gently changing air pressure in the ear canal. It can detect blockages like earwax buildup or fluid in the middle ear, which can affect hearing.

Those are the most common, but we do have other types of tests available. After examining your symptoms and overall hearing health, we’ll determine which hearing tests best meet your needs.

What happens during a hearing test?

Most hearing tests happen in a quiet room. You’ll wear headphones and listen to various sounds. Each type of test focuses on a different part of your hearing. After we finish testing, we’ll look at your results together.

What does a hearing test show?

A test like audiometry shows the cause, type, and level of hearing loss. You’ll see your results on a chart called an audiogram, which measures both sound volume (in decibels) and pitch. On this graph, you’ll have data points for each sound or pitch tested. It will show:

  • Which sounds or pitches you hear clearly
  • Which sounds are harder for you to hear
  • How severe any hearing loss is

What is the normal hearing range?

On an audiogram, higher data points usually mean better hearing. Most people with normal hearing can hear sounds quieter than 25 decibels (like a whisper). Here are common categories: 

Normal Hearing

You can hear sounds under 25dB.

Mild Hearing Loss

You can hear sounds between 25dB and 40dB, but softer sounds are tough to catch.

Moderate Hearing Loss

You struggle with sounds under 41dB to 65dB.

Severe Hearing Loss

You have trouble hearing sounds under 66dB to 90dB.

Profound Hearing Loss

You need sounds louder than 90dB (similar to a lawnmower) to hear them.

Hearing loss might not be even across all pitches. You could hear well at some pitches but have problems at others—like high tones.

Why is a hearing test important?

A hearing test is a simple way to protect your hearing health. Even if you think your hearing is good, this test gives you a baseline for the future. If you do have any hearing loss, these tests help us create a plan to treat it.

At The Woodlands Hearing Center, we want you to enjoy the best possible hearing. Call 281-374-4979 or contact us online to schedule a hearing test with us today.