You're about to undergo a pure tone audiometry test, which involves listening to pure tones through headphones in a quiet room. You'll be asked to respond to tones with varying frequencies and volumes. This test helps identify hearing loss, including conductive, sensorineural, or mixed types. Your responses will be recorded and plotted on an audiogram.

As you prepare for the test, you'll want to understand what to expect and how the results will be used to determine your hearing health, and that's just the starting point for understanding your hearing assessment.

The test is a crucial step in evaluating your hearing ability, and the results will provide valuable insights into your hearing capabilities. The audiogram will show the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies, helping to identify any potential hearing issues.

All Ears in Hearing is based in Rochedale South and Shailer Park. We service all the surrounding areas of Rochedale, Shailer Park, Logan, Mount Gravatt, Acacia Ridge, Parkison, Strettong, Browns Plains, Regents Park, Forestdale, Forest Lake, Springfield Lakes and Waterford West.

What Is Pure Tone

When you're looking into pure tone audiometry, it's worth understanding what you're dealing with, in terms of what constitutes a pure tone. A pure tone is a sound that has a single frequency, or pitch, and it doesn't have any other frequencies mixed in. It's a very specific type of sound that's used to test your hearing. You'll hear pure tones through headphones, and you'll be asked to respond when you hear them.

You're being tested to see how well you can hear these pure tones at different frequencies and volumes. The tones will get softer and softer, and you'll be asked to indicate when you can barely hear them. This helps determine the threshold of your hearing, or the softest sound you can hear. It's an important part of the pure tone audiometry test, and it's used to diagnose hearing loss and other hearing problems. You'll likely be tested at several different frequencies to get a complete picture of your hearing.

How PTA Test Works

The pure tone audiometry test itself is relatively straightforward – you'll sit in a soundproof room, wear headphones, and a technician will play pure tones at different frequencies and volumes. You'll be asked to respond when you hear a tone, and the technician will record your responses. This process helps determine the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies.

As you listen to the tones, you'll indicate when you hear them by pressing a button or raising your hand. The technician will use this information to create an audiogram, which is a graph that shows your hearing ability at different frequencies. You may be asked to repeat this process with different types of headphones or in different listening conditions. The test is usually quick and easy, and it doesn't require any special preparation. You'll simply need to follow the technician's instructions and respond honestly to the sounds you hear.

Hearing Loss Diagnosis

You'll receive a hearing loss diagnosis based on the results of your pure tone audiometry test. The test will determine the degree and type of hearing loss you're experiencing. It'll identify if you have conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there's a problem with the middle ear, while sensorineural hearing loss is related to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both.

Your diagnosis will also specify the severity of your hearing loss, which can range from mild to profound. The results will be plotted on an audiogram, a graph that shows the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies. You'll be able to see the frequencies where you have hearing loss and the degree of loss. This information will help your audiologist or hearing specialist determine the best course of treatment for your specific condition. They'll use this data to recommend hearing aids, surgery, or other interventions to improve your hearing.

Test Procedure Steps

During a pure tone audiometry test, sitting in a soundproof room helps minimize background noise, and it's where you'll be positioned to start the test. You'll wear headphones, and the examiner will be in another room, controlling the test equipment. They'll communicate with you through an intercom, giving you instructions and asking for your responses.

The test will start with a series of tones, and you'll be asked to respond when you hear them. You'll indicate when you hear a tone by pressing a button or raising your hand. The tones will vary in frequency and intensity, and you'll be tested for both air conduction and bone conduction. The examiner will also test your hearing in each ear separately. You'll be asked to repeat the process for each ear, and the test will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. You shouldn't guess or respond to sounds you're not sure about, just respond when you're certain you hear a tone.

Results Interpretation Guide

Generally, results from a pure tone audiometry test are plotted on an audiogram, which is a graph that shows how well you can hear sounds at different frequencies and intensities. You'll see lines or symbols representing your hearing thresholds for each ear. The audiogram will help you understand your hearing ability, and you'll be able to identify the frequencies where you have difficulty hearing.

As you look at your audiogram, you'll notice that the frequencies are plotted on the x-axis and the intensity levels are on the y-axis. You can see how well you hear sounds at different pitches and volumes. If you don't hear a sound at a certain intensity, it means you have a hearing threshold at that level. Your results will be compared to a standard, allowing you to see how your hearing compares to what's considered normal. This information will help you understand your hearing and guide any further actions or treatments you may need. You can discuss your results with an audiologist or hearing specialist to get a better understanding.

Types of Hearing Loss

Based on your pure tone audiometry test results, it's possible to determine what type of hearing loss you're experiencing. You might have conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there's a problem with the way sound is conducted to your inner ear. This can be caused by issues with your ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear bones.

Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, happens when there's damage to your inner ear or auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss can be caused by age, exposure to loud noises, or certain medical conditions. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, where you have problems with both sound conduction and inner ear or auditory nerve function. You may also experience central hearing loss, which affects your brain's ability to process sound. Knowing the type of hearing loss you have will help you and your doctor determine the best course of treatment to improve your hearing.

Test Equipment Used

Most pure tone audiometry tests require specific equipment to accurately assess your hearing. You'll typically find an audiometer, which is the primary device used to produce the sounds you'll be listening to. It's usually connected to a pair of headphones that you'll wear during the test. The audiometer will produce a range of tones at different frequencies and volumes, and you'll be asked to respond when you hear them.

As you take the test, you'll be seated in a soundproof room to minimize background noise and ensure accurate results. The equipment used is designed to produce high-quality sound and to allow the tester to precisely control the volume and frequency of the tones. You won't need to bring any equipment with you, as everything will be provided by the tester. The tester will also use a specialized computer system to record your responses and generate a graph of your hearing abilities. This equipment helps to ensure that your hearing is assessed accurately and efficiently.

Preparation and Tips

As you prepare for a pure tone audiometry test, it's essential that you don't have anything in your ears that could interfere with the test results, so you'll need to remove any earbuds, earrings, or hearing aids before the test begins. You should also try to avoid loud noises before the test, as this can temporarily affect your hearing.

You'll be seated in a soundproof room, and you'll be asked to respond to different sounds. It's crucial that you're honest about what you can hear, as this will help the audiologist get accurate results. If you're unsure about a sound, don't be afraid to say so. You'll be given instructions on how to respond, and you should follow them carefully. Remember to stay still and quiet during the test, as movement can also interfere with the results. By following these tips, you'll be able to get the most accurate results from your pure tone audiometry test.