Beverly Hills Hearing Center was founded in 1983 by Bonnie Baehr. Prior to that, Dr. Baehr practiced at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles as a staff audiologist for seven years. She was involved with diagnostic testing, hearing aid evaluations, research and rehabilitation. Dr. Baehr did her clinical fellowship training at the Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in downtown Los Angeles. She is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech Language and Hearing Association, California Academy of Audiology and Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
Latest posts by Bonnie L. Baehr, Au.D. (see all)
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Hearing changes can feel overwhelming, especially when the cause isn’t clear. A complete audiologic exam helps remove the guesswork. It offers a clear picture of hearing ability and sets the stage for confident decisions. With the right testing and care, hearing health can be better understood and managed.
Every step of the process is important, from the first question to the final recommendation. Knowing what to expect along the way can ease nerves and help patients feel more prepared. This guide outlines the full exam process in detail, including each test involved, what the results mean, and what happens next.
Starting with a Clear Conversation
The exam begins with a focused conversation about health history and hearing concerns. A hearing health professional asks questions to better understand possible causes of hearing changes. This discussion often includes medical background, noise exposure, family history, medications, and any ringing in the ears or balance issues. The goal is to gather helpful details before testing begins. These answers can influence which tests are chosen and how results are interpreted. This part of the visit also builds trust.
Visual Check and Physical Exam
Next, a physical exam of the ears is done using a tool called an otoscope, which allows the hearing health professional to check for visible problems in the outer ear or ear canal. Wax buildup, infection, or structural issues can affect test results or even cause hearing loss. If anything unusual is seen, it may be treated before moving forward with testing.
A clear ear canal ensures that sound can travel freely to the inner ear. This simple exam only takes a few minutes, but it plays a key role in accurate results. It also helps rule out certain conditions that may not need further testing.
Pure-Tone Testing and Threshold Check
After the visual exam, hearing thresholds are measured using pure-tone testing. The individual sits in a soundproof booth and listens to tones at various volumes and pitches through headphones. The hearing health professional records the softest sounds that can be heard at different frequencies.
A chart called an audiogram is used to display the results. This test shows how well the ears detect sound and if hearing loss is present. Both ears are tested separately. The results give a baseline for future exams and help guide treatment options, such as hearing protection or amplification devices, depending on the pattern of hearing loss.
Speech Testing for Real-Life Listening
Speech testing helps measure how clearly spoken words are heard and understood. This part of the exam often includes two main tasks: repeating single words at a comfortable volume and identifying words in background noise. The results show how well speech is processed under different conditions.
Some hearing losses affect clarity more than volume, and this test can help pinpoint that. Speech testing provides real-world insight into daily listening challenges. The scores help determine if amplification would improve word understanding or if other tools may be helpful. It also helps guide conversations about communication strategies and next steps.
Tests of Middle Ear and Inner Ear Function
Even with a normal inner ear, a malfunctioning middle ear might impair hearing. Tympanometry and acoustic reflex tests evaluate the middle ear’s function and the movement of the eardrum. Among the problems these tests can find are the presence of fluid, pressure discrepancies, and eardrum stiffness. They are fast and easy.
Occasionally, other tests like auditory brainstem response (ABR) or otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) might be employed to investigate more deeply the inner ear and auditory pathways. Especially when hearing loss is hard to explain, these techniques offer insightful information.
Interpreting the Results and Next Actions
When all tests are finished, the hearing health professional clearly and helpfully interprets the findings. Should hearing loss be discovered, recommendations might include ongoing monitoring, more medical tests, customized protection, and hearing aids. Preventive treatment could still be recommended even if findings are normal.
The following actions might include follow-up appointments, hearing device fits, or advice on communication. Beyond the initial check, good hearing care should persist. Call our hearing health professional now to get a complete audiologic examination and start the road to better hearing.