Hearing Tests

At our HearCANADA clinics, a hearing test appointment begins with your clinician asking you about your background, medical history, employment and sound environments.

We will also ask if you think your hearing is deteriorating, and if you are exposed to loud noises at your work.

The hearing test will begin with a physical exam of the ear, and will then move to testing in a sound booth. You will be asked to wear headphones, and the clinician outside of the booth will play different sounds at different volumes and pitches to one ear at a time. You give an indication if you can hear the sound or not, and what the sound might be.

Our hearing care professionals use the success rate of your responses to determine the severity of hearing loss in both of your ears.

If you think you have hearing loss, but you aren’t sure if you want to request an appointment at a hearing clinic, you can always try a free online hearing test.

Taking an online hearing test is a great way to give you a better idea if you have hearing loss. Online hearing tests only require a few minutes of your time, and a pair of headphones connected to your computer. 

It is not as accurate as a full hearing test, but it will be able to tell you if you show clear signs of hearing loss. Taking this online test for free at your home is a good way to give you your first indication that you should see a hearing care specialist.

If the test says you show signs of hearing loss, we recommend that you visit the clinic for a full assessment of your hearing health. The hearing care professional can guide you on what to do after taking the test.

Police Testing
A hearing test is one of the requirements for the pre-hire testing service for police applicants across the province of Ontario and many other provinces. The RCMP also requires the audiologist performing the hearing test to declare whether the individual meets the hearing standards of the organization. 

Industrial Hearing Test
Some employers will sometimes require a hearing test to ensure their employee either has sufficient hearing to safely perform the tasks of their job, or to obtain a baseline measure of hearing as the employee works in a noisy environment. 
 
Our centres can perform hearing tests at our locations for employees and their employers. We also offer custom ear plugs to protect your hearing at work.
 

Many people are very anxious at the thought of a hearing test, though it isn’t a stressful process. Here are some tips to help prepare for your hearing test:

• Bring your health card
• Feel free to bring a friend or family member along to your appointment for support
• Give yourself plenty of time and try to arrive at the hearing test in a relaxed frame of mind
• Breathe steadily and sit comfortably
• Prepare a list of symptoms and key medical information, including your work history, military service, and any hobbies or instances where you were exposed to high noise levels
  
  

Types of Hearing Tests

When you have your hearing tested, there are a few different kinds of tests you can have done. Which one you take will depend on the equipment available at a centre, and what the test needs to assess.

Here are the four main types that we use in our clinics:

Your hearing test is evaluated using an audiogram. This shows test sounds on a scale and provides information on the hearing threshold level in decibels. A hearing test isn’t a pass-fail exam, but the results can show whether you have hearing loss in one or both ears and how much hearing is gone.  Here's how it works:

• It indicates how loud different sounds must be before they are first heard. 
• If you have hearing loss, our hearing care professional will explain the result of the audiogram to you. 
• It is a reflection of your hearing ability, so it shows how far your hearing ability deviates from normal hearing ability for each ear.

If your hearing test shows you have a hearing loss, our clinicians will explain the next steps. Our full assessment also includes things like visually inspecting your ears to see if you have impacted earwax or other visual signs of blockages or damage to your ear. In some cases, such as earwax blockages, we can offer a direct solution that can restore your hearing to your normal levels. We may also refer you to your family doctor or an ENT specialist for a service they can provide to help.

But for most people, the best solution is to try hearing aids. In this case, our hearing care professional will explain your options, how they work, how much they can cost, and so on. 

Hearing Tests for Children

Some of our clinics can perform hearing tests on children, though it will depend on their age. During the hearing test, the hearing care professional will ask young children to do a simple activity such as placing a ring on a peg when they hear a specific sound.

Older children may have to press a button or raise a hand when they hear the sound until the child no longer reacts. If you want to know which of our HearCANADA centres are able to offer pediatric hearing tests and services for your child, please contact us.