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Hearing Tests & Diagnostic Evaluations in Freehold, NJ
Comprehensive, evidence-based audiologic care in Freehold, NJ and Monmouth County
Do You Need a Hearing Test?
Most people wait seven to ten years from the time they first notice changes in their hearing before seeking an evaluation. During that time, the brain is quietly losing its ability to process speech — a process that becomes progressively harder to reverse the longer it continues.
If any of the following sound familiar, a diagnostic hearing evaluation is the right next step:
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You frequently ask people to repeat themselves
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Speech sounds muffled, especially on the phone or in noisy environments
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You have difficulty following conversations when background noise is present
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You turn the television or radio up louder than others prefer
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You miss parts of conversations in group settings, restaurants, or meetings
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You have ringing, buzzing, or humming sounds in your ears (tinnitus)
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A family member or colleague has expressed concern about your hearing
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You have not had a hearing test in the last three to five years
Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition in adults — behind arthritis and heart disease. Research has showed that untreated hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, depression, social withdrawal, and falls. An evaluation gives you an accurate, complete picture about your hearing, so you can make informed decisions about your health.
Why a Doctoral-Level Audiologist Matters for Diagnostic Testing
Not all hearing evaluations are the same, and not all hearing care providers have the same clinical training.
Dr. Alexandra Haynie holds a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree — a four-year post-graduate clinical doctorate — and is dually certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-A) and the American Board of Audiology (ABA). These credentials represent the highest level of clinical training in the audiology profession.
A doctoral-level diagnostic evaluation goes beyond pass/fail threshold testing. It identifies the type of hearing loss — sensorineural, conductive, or mixed — determines the degree and configuration of the loss, assesses how well you understand speech at different volumes, evaluates your middle ear function, and provides a complete clinical picture that guides appropriate next steps, whether that means monitoring, medical referral, hearing technology, or further testing.
A hearing screening at a retail location or hearing aid center is not a diagnostic evaluation. If you have concerns about your hearing, a complete evaluation by a credentialed audiologist is the right starting point.
What to Expect — Your Diagnostic Hearing Evaluation
A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation at Haynie Audiology typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. It is completely painless and non-invasive. You will leave with a complete audiogram, a clear explanation of your results, and personalized recommendations based on your specific hearing profile.
Here is exactly what happens:
Getting to Know You
Before any testing begins, Dr. Haynie will spend time getting to know you — your medical history, any medications that may affect hearing, past noise exposures, current listening difficulties, occupation, recreational activities, and what brought you in. This conversation provides an essential foundation for interpreting your results in the context of your real life.
Otoscopy — Visual Examination of the Ear
Using an otoscope, Dr. Haynie will examine both ear canals and eardrums before testing begins. To hear clearly the ear canal must be free from blockages, the eardrum must be intact, and the middle ear structures must be functioning normally. If earwax buildup is present and affecting your ear canal or results, Dr. Haynie is also a specialist in earwax removal using the most advanced techniques available and can address this in the same appointment.
Middle Ear Testing — Tympanometry
Tympanometry evaluates the health and function of your middle ear — the eardrum and the three small bones (ossicles) behind it. A small probe tip is placed at the ear canal opening and a gentle change in air pressure measures how your eardrum responds. This test identifies middle ear conditions including fluid behind the eardrum, eardrum perforations, Eustachian tube dysfunction, and otosclerosis — conditions that can cause or contribute to hearing loss and that may require medical attention rather than — or in addition to — hearing aids.
Air Conduction Testing
Seated in a soundproofed testing booth, you will wear either headphones or insert earphones while listening to a series of pure tones — short beeps at different pitches — and responding each time you hear one, no matter how faint. This test establishes your hearing thresholds across the frequency range most important for understanding speech, from low-pitched bass sounds to high pitched consonants. These thresholds form the basis of your audiogram.
Bone Conduction Testing
A small vibrating device called a bone oscillator is placed on the mastoid bone behind your ear. It sends sound vibrations directly through the skull to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear entirely. Comparing bone conduction thresholds to air conduction thresholds tells Dr. Haynie precisely where in the auditory pathway the hearing loss is occurring — whether in the outer or middle ear (conductive loss), the inner ear or auditory nerve (sensorineural loss), or a combination of both (mixed loss). This distinction is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.
Speech Reception Thresholds (SRT)
Speech Reception Threshold testing determines the softest level at which you can understand speech. You will listen to a series of two-syllable words — called spondee words — that decrease in volume, and repeat back each word you hear. The SRT confirms the pure-tone thresholds established in air conduction testing and provides a check on the reliability of the pure-tone results.
Word Recognition Testing
Word Recognition testing is performed at a comfortably loud listening level using live speech. You will be presented with a list of single-syllable words and asked to repeat each one. The percentage of words you correctly identify is your Word Recognition Score — a critically important measure that predicts how well you are likely to perform with hearing aids. Understanding your Word Recognition Score is one of the most important outcomes of a diagnostic evaluation.
What Happens After the Test?
When testing is complete, Dr. Haynie will sit with you — and any family member or companion you choose to bring — and review your complete audiogram results in plain language. You will understand exactly what your results mean, how your hearing compares to normal, and what the clinical options are based on your specific profile.
If your results suggest a medical cause for hearing loss — sudden hearing loss, asymmetric loss, ear pain, drainage, or other concerning findings — Dr. Haynie will provide a prompt referral to an ENT physician. If your results indicate that hearing technology would benefit you, the next step is a Hearing Aid Evaluation. If monitoring is appropriate, you will leave with a clear baseline audiogram and a recommendation for when to return.
Want to understand what your audiogram results will show before your appointment? Read our complete guide: What Is an Audiogram?
Have more questions about hearing tests? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to the most common questions patients ask before their first appointment.
Hearing Tests for Children
Haynie Audiology provides diagnostic hearing evaluations for children ages 5 and up using age-appropriate behavioral testing methods. Children's hearing evaluations use the same comprehensive protocol as adult evaluations — pure-tone testing, bone conduction, speech reception thresholds, and word recognition — adapted for the child's age and cooperation level.
Early identification of hearing loss in children is essential for speech and language development, academic performance, and social connection. If you have concerns about your child's hearing, speech development, listening attention, or school performance, a diagnostic evaluation is the appropriate first step.
Hearing Tests at Home
Cannot make it to our Freehold office? Dr. Haynie provides comprehensive diagnostic hearing evaluations in the home for patients who are homebound, medically fragile, or who prefer the convenience of in-home care.
Insurance, Cost, and Coverage
Diagnostic hearing evaluations are covered by Medicare Part B and most major commercial insurance plans. Coverage is typically subject to your deductible and copay depending on your specific plan.
We accept Medicare and most major insurances. Call our office at 732-810-2104 to verify your coverage before your appointment — we will confirm your benefits.
No referral is required to schedule your evaluation at Haynie Audiology.
Hearing Loss and Your Overall Health
Research has established meaningful links between untreated hearing loss and several serious health outcomes. Patients with hearing loss are significantly more likely to experience cognitive decline and dementia, depression and social isolation, and an increased risk of falls and balance problems. These are not coincidental associations — they reflect the brain's response to years of auditory deprivation and the social withdrawal that untreated hearing loss produces over time.
The most important step in addressing these risks is the one that comes first: an accurate, complete diagnosis of where your hearing actually stands.
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Ready to Schedule?
Haynie Audiology & Hearing Associates is located at 31 West Main Street in downtown Freehold — easily accessible from Manalapan, Marlboro, Howell, Middletown, Hazlet, Red Bank, and across Monmouth County.
Or call us directly: 732-810-2104