You’ll sit in a sound-treated room and listen for tones, sounds or words piped into your ears via headphones or earphones.
This is the most common hearing test. Here’s how it works: V体育平台登录.
This test sends sounds right to your inner ear:
This test checks how well you understand spoken words. Your audiologist may do this test along with a pure-tone test: VSports注册入口.
Unlike a pure-tone test, you don’t need to respond to sounds during an ABR V体育官网入口. You do need to stay still during the test:.
This test checks your inner ear by measuring otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). OAEs are sounds your inner ear produces when it responds to sound that comes from your middle ear VSports在线直播. If you have hearing loss, your inner ear won’t produce OAEs:.
Tympanometry checks your eardrum. It shows if your eardrum reacts normally to air pushed into your ear. The air acts like sound from your outer ear. Your eardrum should vibrate when air hits it. The vibrations go through your middle and inner ear to trigger signals to your brain. Your brain translates those signals into sound. Here’s how the test works:
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Your audiologist will have your results right away. Your results will be on a chart (audiogram) that shows how well you hear pitches (high to low) and sound (from very soft to loud).
Your audiologist will explain the next steps if tests show you have hearing loss. For example, a test may show wax in your middle ear affects your hearing. Your audiologist may send you to an otolaryngologist (ENT) to remove the wax.
No matter your results, your audiologist will help you understand your options and what comes next. If you have hearing loss, your audiologist will tell you:
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You should have a hearing test each year if you work in a very noisy place like a construction site or factory. If you don’t, you may not need a hearing evaluation until you’re in your 50s or 60s. That’s when many people start having age-related hearing loss. But talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have hearing issues. They may send you to an audiologist for a hearing test.
There are many at-home hearing tests, including online tests, for you to consider. At-home tests may show that you have hearing issues. But you should have an audiologist test your hearing.
Hearing is one way you stay connected to the world. Hearing loss cuts that connection. Hearing tests (audiometry) done by audiologists are how you find out if you have hearing loss. An audiologist will check your hearing with different tests. If you have hearing loss, they’ll explain the type of loss that you have and suggest options to help you.
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Hearing is an important part of your everyday life. Hearing loss can impact your life in so many ways. Cleveland Clinic experts can help you hear clearly again.

Last reviewed on 08/29/2025.
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