Receiving Care

Last update on Nov, 06, 2024

Hearing Test Types and Why They Matter

And why is it so important to test your hearing?

When it comes to your hearing health, you may see information about both hearing quizzes and hearing tests. While both are valuable assessment tools, they serve different purposes and provide different types of results.

The first thing to know: unless you’re with a professional hearing care provider, you’re taking a hearing quiz. That said, quizzes can give you insightful information about your hearing.

In this article, we’ll look at both quizzes and tests to help you make informed decisions about your hearing health. Plus, we’ll go into the different types of hearing tests so you know what to expect at your hearing health appointment!

Check your hearing online Take our free hearing quiz

Online “Am I Losing My Hearing Quiz?"

An online hearing quiz, sometimes aptly titled a “Do I have hearing loss quiz,” or a “Am I Losing My Hearing?” quiz is typically a preliminary self-assessment designed to illuminate whether you might be experiencing hearing issues that warrant further evaluation.

Some quizzes involve questions about your daily experiences, such as:

Do you struggle to hear in noisy environments?
Do people often seem to be mumbling when they speak?
Do you find yourself frequently turning up the volume on the TV?

Key features of an online hearing quiz:

You can take it at home, at your convenience.
You’ll get immediate results, often indicating whether you should see a hearing care professional for a more in-depth assessment.

Some quizzes use sound-based scenarios to evaluate your hearing ability. These often simulate hearing various tones or speech in different environments, measuring how well you hear at different frequencies and volumes.

This can provide valuable insights into whether you’re experiencing hearing loss and to what degree. However, it’s important to note that online tools do not replace professional diagnostic tests from a licensed hearing health care professional; they can’t account for all variables that can affect hearing.

Try Out One of the Top 5 Quizzes in the U.S.

Amplifon Hearing Health Care’s hearing quiz takes you through a series of recorded conversations involving realistic, everyday sounds. After each audio clip, you’ll answer a question to determine how well you could hear and understand what was being said. At the end, you’ll receive a score that indicates an approximation of your hearing abilities.

Remember, this does not replace a professional assessment but is a good motivator to seek care if necessary.

Fun Fact: Our hearing quiz was recently voted Top 5 in the US by CNET!

Take our online hearing quiz

This quiz is free and takes 3-5 minutes to complete. Before you start, find a quiet space without interruptions or distractions. After you’re done, we can email you the results, help you schedule an appointment, and find a hearing care clinic near you!

Take the quiz now

Hearing Test Types

Now that we have a clear understanding of hearing quizzes, let’s look at the different types of hearing tests. Both audiologists and hearing instrument specialists use a range of hearing tests to assess auditory function. Each test serves a unique purpose, helping the hearing health care provider understand the extent, nature, and specific challenges of your hearing loss. Here are just a few of the types of hearing tests for adults and children and what to expect during each one.

1. Pure-Tone Testing

Pure-tone audiometry is one of the most common tests performed. It assesses a person's ability to hear tones at different frequencies and volumes.

This is the most common in-school hearing test administered. Early intervention can go a long way in helping children who are struggling with hearing and speech comprehension.

During this test:

You'll wear headphones and listen to tones at various pitches and loudness levels.
The provider will ask you to signal when you hear a sound, allowing them to determine the softest sound you can detect.

This test generates an audiogram, a visual representation of your hearing range, which helps pinpoint specific frequencies you may struggle to hear.

2. Speech Testing

Speech testing evaluates how well you understand and process speech at different volumes. While it’s used for adults, it’s also commonly used in schools as part of routine hearing screenings.

This test includes:

Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT): Determines the softest level at which you can recognize speech.
Word Recognition Score (WRS): Assesses your ability to understand words at a comfortable listening level.

This test is particularly helpful in identifying how background noise might affect your ability to follow conversations, which is an important component of real-world hearing situations.

3. Bone Conduction Testing

Bone conduction testing assesses hearing sensitivity by bypassing the outer and middle ear to test the inner ear’s response directly.

In this test:

A small device is placed behind your ear, sending vibrations directly to your inner ear. This helps identify whether your hearing loss is a sensorineural or conductive hearing loss.

Types of Hearing Tests for Toddlers

Note that pediatric testing must be performed by an audiologist.

1. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

The ABR test measures how your brain responds to sound. This is a specialized test typically used when more in-depth analysis is needed, such as for infants or individuals with neurological conditions.

During ABR testing:

Electrodes are placed on the head to record brainwave activity in response to sounds.
The audiologist can evaluate the functionality of the auditory nerve and brain pathways that carry sound from the inner ear to the brain.

2. Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA)

CPA turns hearing testing into a game, which helps keep toddlers engaged. This test is ideal for children around 2.5 years who can follow simple instructions. During CPA:

The child is trained to perform a task (like placing a block in a bucket) each time they hear a sound. This helps determine hearing thresholds for different frequencies and is especially useful for children who need more engaging activities to stay focused.

Types of Hearing Tests for Infants

1. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Testing. OAE testing evaluates the function of the hair cells in the inner ear. Healthy hair cells produce low-level sounds, or otoacoustic emissions, in response to sound stimuli. In this test:

A small probe is placed in the ear to deliver a series of sounds to measure the ear’s response.

If no emissions are detected, it might mean there’s hearing loss due to damaged hair cells. OAE testing is particularly useful for testing infants and those who may have difficulty participating in traditional hearing tests. This test is often done in the hospital after the infant is born.

Quiz vs. Test: When to Use Each

Take a hearing quiz

Take a hearing quiz if you’re wondering whether your hearing has changed and want a quick self-check.

Take a hearing test

Take a hearing test if you’ve noticed persistent hearing difficulties in yourself or a loved one and want a professional hearing assessment.

Hearing Aid Quiz

Hearing tests don’t have to do only with hearing health! Our hearing aid quiz can help you figure out which hearing aid features work with your needs, lifestyle and other factors unique to you!

Take Our Hearing Aid Quiz

Why Is It Important to Test Your Hearing?

Testing your hearing is crucial to maintaining your overall health and well-being. Here are a few reasons to get your hearing tested regularly:

Early Detection of Hearing Loss

Many people don’t realize they have hearing loss because it often happens gradually. A hearing test can help detect any loss early, allowing for quicker intervention.

Improved Communication

Good hearing is essential for effective communication in daily life. Identifying and treating hearing loss can enhance your ability to interact with others at work, home, or social gatherings, leading to a higher quality of life.

Prevent Cognitive Decline

Studies have shown a link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including dementia. Regular hearing tests can help identify hearing issues that, if untreated, may lead to a decline in brain function.

Manage Tinnitus and Other Ear Conditions

Hearing tests can help diagnose conditions like tinnitus, which may be related to hearing loss. Early intervention may help manage these symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

Protect Against Further Damage.

Regular hearing check-ups can help you identify potential causes of hearing damage, such as exposure to loud environments, and encourage you to take preventative measures.

The Next Step: Professional Evaluation

As you age or are frequently exposed to loud sounds, regular hearing tests can benefit your overall health. If your quiz results indicate that you may have hearing loss, the next step is a professional hearing evaluation. This is the only way to accurately assess your hearing health and recommend the best course of action, including hearing aids.

Take control of your hearing health

Request a hearing evaluation

Request an appointment at a hearing care provider near you.

First name

Last name

Phone number

Zip code

By clicking “Request an appointment” I agree that Amplifon Hearing Health Care may make calls/text/emails to my phone/email indicated, including sending promotional offers and information about hearing care and the products and services offered through Amplifon Hearing Health Care, using automated technology, including prerecorded/artificial voice calls or texts. Standard message and data rates may apply. For more information visit https://www.amplifonusa.com/legal-and-privacy/privacy-policy.