A diagnostic hearing evaluation is a comprehensive assessment designed to measure how well you hear and how clearly you understand speech. This evaluation helps identify the type, degree, and possible cause of hearing loss. At Haynie Audiology in Monmouth County, the evaluation includes pure-tone testing, bone conduction testing, speech understanding measures, and middle ear assessment. A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation typically takes 60-90 minutes. The results allow us to better understand your hearing profile and provide personalized recommendations, whether that means monitoring, medical referral, hearing technology, or communication support.

Getting To Know You

Understanding your lifestyle, occupation, recreational activities, and how they all relate to your hearing ability provides us with an important foundation. Before beginning your evaluation, we will discuss your medical history to learn about any past injuries or medication that may affect your hearing. Once we have gotten to know you and what brought you to our office, we begin with a visual examination of your ears.

Otoscopy

Using a tool called an otoscope, our audiologist will begin your hearing evaluation. In order to be able to hear clearly, our ear canals must be free from blockages and our eardrums must be intact. Our Audiologist also specialize in earwax removal using all of the most advanced earwax removal technology and techniques

Middle Ear Testing

Tympanometry is a test to evaluate a variety of outer and middle ear conditions To perform this test, air will be pushed into your ear canal to measure the movement of your eardrum.

Air Conduction Testing

The next step in your hearing evaluation will take place in a soundproof booth with either headphones or insert earphones. Air Conduction testing uses audible “beep” sounds to determine your hearing thresholds, which are the softest level of sounds that you can hear, at different frequency ranges.

Bone Conduction Testing

Bone conduction testing is performed using a bone oscillator on your mastoid bone behind your ear. This sends the vibration of sound directly through your skull into your inner ear, bypassing your outer and middle ear, to determine your Bone Conduction Thresholds.

Speech Reception Thresholds And Word Recognition Testing

The next step in a comprehensive hearing evaluation is speech testing starting with Speech Reception Thresholds (SRTs). This is when you are presented with a series of 2 syllable words that decrease in volume. The goal is to identify the softest level of speech that you can understand.

After SRTs are determined, Word Recogntion Testing is completed. Using live speech, you are presented with 1 syllable words at a fully audible level to determine your percentage of speech understanding. The higher these percentages are, the better you are at comprehending speech, and the better you are expected to perform with hearing aids.

We also provide hearing tests for children ages 5 and up

Can't make it to the office for a diagnostic evaluation? We provide in-home services. Learn about our audiology at home services here

Ready to take the next steps? Read more about our Hearing Aid Evaluation Process and Hearing Aids offered at Haynie Audiology in Freehold, NJ