• Hearing test types: There are offered different types of hearing tests and screenings. The latter is part of the regular medical exam. They are merely fail-pas challenge to determine hearing loss possibility. In case, you fail this screening test, then you might suffer from hearing loss. Authentic hearing tests help determine hearing ability across diverse tones and frequencies, expressed in hertz and dB (decibels). Standard battery includes:
  • Otoacoustic emission testing
  • Tympanometry
  • Speech discrimination tests
  • Pure-tone audiometry

• Signs indicating requiring hearing test: The hospital first tests the baby’s hearing abilities. Schools hold screening tests for children and teenagers. Adults can get hearing test in Mumbai at a reputed hospital. Some indications are:
  • Asking others to repeat what they are saying.
  • Ears experiencing phantom noise, buzzing or ringing.
  • Others finding you to talk extremely loud.
  • Difficulty in hearing a conversation with background noise.
  • Friends and family members finding radio or television volume to be extremely loud.

• Audiograms: Hearing test results are charted on a paper referred to an audiograms. It appears like a series of dots or lines. However, it states the tones you perceive at a specific frequency. Veridical lines indicate pitch (frequencies) is read left-right and low-high. Horizontal lines indicate intensity and measure in decibels, indicating how soft or loud the sound is. Each ear is separately tested and charted while the audiogram records the results.

• Hearing loss types: If audiogram test results indicate hearing loss issues, then it is likely to be anyone mentioned below:
  • Conductive: Although less common, it can be treated easily. It occurs if sound is not able to reach the outer/middle ear because of wax build-up or infection. Hearing gets restored with the removal of blockage.
  • Sensorineural: It is quite common and results from overexposure to ototoxic drugs, loud noise or aging. It is permanent and causes damage to hair cells present in the cochlea. You will require using hearing aids to deliver sound into your ear.
  • Mixed: It is described commonly as a mixture of both types. There can be certain symptoms associated with both types to be present, besides other causes.

• Hearing loss severity: Hearing tests measured in decibels help determine hearing loss amount.
  • Profound (9 dB): You will not hear any sound.
  • Severe (6-90 dB): You cannot hear conversational speech.
  • Moderately severe (61-75 dB): Quite difficult to hear even ordinary speech.
  • Moderate (46-60 dB): Tough to hear conversational speech with background noise.
  • Mild (21-45 dB): Finding difficulty distinguishing soft sounds.

If you experience even the slightest hearing issue, you should immediately visit the nearest clinic to get the proper and correct treatment.