What Happens During a Hearing Test? Step-by-Step Audiometry Guide

Many people put off booking a hearing test because they are not sure what to expect. This guide walks you through exactly what happens at MMM Hearing Centre — from the moment you walk in to receiving your results. It is quick, painless, and could change your life.

Step 1 — Case History

Before any tests begin, Dr. Shehroz Majid will have a short conversation with you (or your child's parent) to understand:

• When you first noticed the hearing difficulty
• Which ear is affected — one or both
• Any history of ear infections, tinnitus (ringing), or dizziness
• Current medications (some can affect hearing)
• Occupational noise exposure
• Family history of hearing loss

This takes about 5–10 minutes and gives the audiologist important context before testing begins.

Step 2 — Otoscopy (Ear Canal Examination)

Using a small lighted instrument called an otoscope, the audiologist examines your ear canal and eardrum. This checks for:

• Earwax blockage (cerumen impaction)
• Infection or inflammation
• Damage to the eardrum
• Foreign objects

This is completely painless and takes less than 2 minutes per ear.

Step 3 — Pure-Tone Audiometry

This is the main hearing test. You wear headphones and listen to a series of tones at different pitches (frequencies) and volumes. Each time you hear a sound, you press a button or raise your hand. The audiologist records the softest sound you can hear at each frequency.

The results are plotted on a graph called an audiogram, which shows your hearing threshold for each ear across all frequency ranges. This test identifies:

• The degree of hearing loss — mild, moderate, severe, or profound
• Which frequencies are most affected
• Whether one or both ears are affected

Step 4 — Speech Audiometry

You listen to spoken words (at varying volumes) and repeat them back. This tests how well you understand speech — which is different from simply detecting sound. It helps determine how well a hearing aid might benefit you.

Step 5 — Tympanometry

A soft probe is placed gently in your ear canal. It creates a small change in air pressure to test how well your eardrum and middle ear are working. This test detects:

• Fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear) — very common in children
• Eardrum perforation
• Middle ear infection
• Eustachian tube dysfunction

It takes about 30 seconds per ear and is completely painless.

Step 6 — OAE Screening (for infants and children)

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) testing is used for babies and young children who cannot respond to standard audiometry. A small probe plays sounds into the ear and measures the response of the inner ear (cochlea). This test can be performed on sleeping newborns and gives a reliable result in minutes.

Understanding Your Results

At the end of the appointment, Dr. Majid will explain your audiogram clearly — in Hindi, English, or Urdu — and recommend the next steps. This may include:

• No action required (normal hearing)
• Medical referral (for ear infections or eardrum issues)
• Hearing aid trial and fitting
• Speech therapy referral
• Follow-up testing in 6–12 months