Audiometry assesses hearing across a range of frequencies and volumes to identify whether hearing loss is present and, if so, how significant it is. The test is painless and takes place in a quiet room using headphones, with the patient simply indicating when a sound is heard. It's useful for children with delayed speech development, adults noticing difficulty following conversation, and anyone with ringing in the ears, and forms the basis for deciding on further evaluation or hearing aids.
This specific test measures the softest sound you can hear at different pitches, giving a precise threshold for each ear separately. It's the standard method used to classify hearing loss as mild, moderate, or severe, and to determine whether it affects one or both ears. The results are plotted on a chart called an audiogram, which the audiologist uses to explain your hearing clearly and to guide decisions about treatment or hearing aid fitting where relevant.
Hearing a sound and understanding speech are not quite the same thing, which is why speech audiometry specifically checks how well you can recognise and repeat words at a comfortable volume. This is particularly useful for patients who say they can hear people talking but struggle to make out what's being said, a common and often frustrating complaint. The results help distinguish between different types and patterns of hearing difficulty.
For patients with more complex hearing concerns, a comprehensive assessment brings together several tests to build a complete picture, rather than relying on a single measurement. This is often recommended for children, for sudden hearing loss, or when initial tests raise questions needing closer evaluation. Depending on the findings, the audiologist may recommend hearing aids, further medical evaluation with an ENT specialist, or simply monitoring the situation over time.
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