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Author: Karen Dewhurst
Role: Head of Audiology
Date written: March 2010
Last reviewed: February 2016
Next review due: February 2019
Version: 1.2
Code: PI0539
Appointment for a Hearing
Aid Assessment (page 1 of 3)
The Audiology Department has been asked to offer you an appointment
for a Hearing Aid Assessment. This can take up to one hour and if you
wish you are welcome to bring a relative or friend with you. At the
appointment an audiologist will take a medical history and ask you about
your hearing in everyday situations. They will then test your hearing
by playing sounds through headphones. After the test the audiologist
will discuss the results with you and discuss whether hearing aids
are recommended. If hearing aids are recommended we will take an
impression of your ear/s using soft putty.
At your appointment the audiologist will:
• ask you some questions about your medical history
• ask about how well you hear in different everyday situations and
what difficulties you have
• look in your ears with a special torch-like instrument called an
otoscope to check for any visible problems.
• carry out a hearing test
• discuss the results of the test with you and establish if you are a
candidate for a hearing aid at this stage
• discuss hearing aids, how you feel about wearing one, and what
you can expect from it
• discuss with you whether you might benefit from wearing two aids.
If a decision is made to proceed with hearing aid(s) an impression of your
ear(s) will be taken. This involves putting in some coloured putty using a
special syringe and waiting a few minutes for it to set. The putty is then
taken out and used to make the earmould (usually clear, not coloured) for
your hearing aid. Taking an ear impression makes sure that the earmould
is custom-made to fit you comfortably. Your earmould(s) will be ready in
time for your second appointment.
Hearing test
The hearing test establishes the quietest sounds you are able to hear at
different frequencies or pitches. The test takes around 20 minutes.
What will happen during the test
• The audiologist will take you into a soundproof booth where the test
will take place.
• A pair of headphones will be placed over your ears and you will be
given a response button to hold.
Audiology Department
01722 336262 ext 4335 or 4801
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Appointment for a Hearing Aid Assessment (2 of 3)
• The audiologist will play you a series of sounds through the headphones. The sounds will
be played into one ear at a time only. The sounds will be simple tones, usually played at
each of six different pitches that represent the important range of human hearing.
• The audiologist will ask you to press the response button whenever you think that you hear
a sound in your headphones, and to hold the button down for as long as you can hear the
sound. Only let go of the button when you think the sound has stopped.
• Each time you indicate correctly that you can hear the sound, the audiologist will reduce
the volume slightly and replay the sound until you are no longer able to hear it. The
audiologist will then make a note of the quietest volume at which you were able to hear the
sound.
• The test will then be repeated on your other ear.
It is important to follow the instructions carefully. If there is anything you don’t understand, or if
you’re not sure what you have to do please tell the audiologist.
Your hearing test results will be recorded on an audiogram chart.
The audiogram is a chart that tells clinicians exactly how well you are able to hear tones of
different frequencies.
There will be a series of symbols
across the chart. The position of
these symbols on the chart indicates
the quietest sounds you can hear at
different frequencies.
The lower down the symbol is on
the chart the greater the degree of
your hearing loss is at that particular
frequency (pitch). Lower pitched sounds
are on the left of the chart and higher
pitched ones on the right.
An example of an audiogram chart
Audiology Department
01722 336262 ext 4335 or 4801
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk
Appointment for a Hearing Aid Assessment (3 of 3)
Other hearing tests
The audiologist may carry out other tests to find out what is causing your hearing loss.
Bone conduction hearing test
You will be asked to wear a headband that presses on the mastoid bone behind your ear
and transfers the sound directly to the inner ear, thereby bypassing the outer and middle ear
completely.
In some instances the test is carried out whilst a constant “rushing” noise is played into the
headphones. This is done because when testing one ear it is sometimes possible for sounds to
be heard by the other ear, via the bone of the skull. The purpose of this rushing noise is to ‘mask’
the ear that isn’t being tested, to prevent it hearing the test tones.
You will be asked to ignore this noise and, as before, asked to respond by pressing the button
whenever you hear a test tone. The volume of the rushing noise will vary, but you should always
press the button for as long as you think you can hear a tone being played to you, however faint.
Uncomfortable loudness levels test
This test establishes the level at which sound becomes uncomfortable. This information can then
be used when setting up your hearing aid, to help protect your ears from any uncomfortably loud
sounds. This test is usually carried out immediately following the audiometric hearing test.
• For this test you will be asked to wear the headphones again.
• The audiologist will play a series of sounds to you through the headphones. These sounds
will gradually become louder and you will be asked to tell the audiologist as soon as the
sound becomes uncomfortably loud.
• This is not a test to find the loudest sound you can tolerate. It is to find the level at
which you feel the sound has become uncomfortable. So, you will be asked to tell the
audiologist as soon as the sound becomes uncomfortably loud.
Audiology Department
01722 336262 ext 4335 or 4801
© Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
www.salisbury.nhs.uk