Hearing Test In Singapore

Hearing Test In Singapore – How It Works And Where To Get One?

A hearing test, or audiometry test, helps check the state of your ears and determine whether you are experiencing any degree of sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss in one or both ears. If a person is diagnosed with hearing loss after a hearing test, they will be recommended to get a hearing aid to help them achieve better clarity in hearing. Here is everything you need to know about taking a hearing test in Singapore.

How Does A Hearing Test Work?

1. Consultation With An Audiologist

A hearing test will first start out with a consultation, where you will be asked a series of questions to find out more about your present state of hearing, lifestyle habits, family history of hearing loss, and any medical conditions such as infections or injuries. This may either be done via a written questionnaire or through verbal communication and will give your audiologist a better idea of your risk factors or possible reasons for hearing loss.

2. Pure Tone Audiometry Test

You will then proceed to do a pure tone audiometry test in a very quiet or soundproof room, while wearing a set of headphones connected to a machine called an audiometer. The audiometer will typically play a series of beeps and whistles of different pitches and frequencies, and you will have to indicate which ones you can hear by pressing a button or responding through an action such as raising your hand. This is the most common form of hearing test.

3. Speech Discrimination Test

In some cases, you may be asked to do a speech discrimination test, where you will have to repeat sentences played for you to hear in different volumes. This will determine how well you can hear speech and distinguish consonants; those who have hearing loss often have trouble hearing certain consonants clearly.

4. Speech In Noise Test

There are also “speech in noise” hearing tests, which establish how well you are able to pick up another person’s talking when there is background noise. Such hearing tests can easily be done online in a few minutes.

General Process Of A Hearing Test

The entire duration of an in-person hearing test should last around 30 minutes and is completely painless. It is important to be honest with your audiologist when answering any questions during the hearing test, as this will help provide an accurate diagnosis with the best prescription of hearing aid.

When Is It Time To Do A Hearing Test?

If you think you might be experiencing hearing loss, you should definitely schedule yourself for a hearing test so that the right treatment and hearing aid can be prescribed to you as soon as possible. Some early symptoms include having an increased difficulty in comprehending others’ speech, especially in environments with background noise, as well as the reduced ability to make out what they are saying despite others around you being able to hear them clearly.

Who Should Take A Hearing Test?

The elderly should go for regular hearing tests every 3 to 5 years as part of their routine full body checkups, as sensorineural hearing loss is most commonly found in seniors due to one’s natural ageing process.

Other than that, those who work in noisy environments on a daily or frequent basis (for example, construction, nightlife, factories) should also attend regular hearing tests regardless of age, as the constant exposure to loud volumes can damage one’s ear drums without them realizing.

If you have suffered a high-impact injury with possible structural or nerve-related damage to either of your ears, a hearing test will also be helpful in checking whether you are experiencing hearing loss as a side effect.

Age-related hearing loss and hearing loss caused by noise damage usually occur gradually over time, so those experiencing it may not necessarily notice it at first. If you suspect your loved ones have become hard of hearing, do encourage them to take a hearing test, and if possible, accompany them for moral support especially if it is their first time.

Getting A Hearing Test In Singapore

Hearing tests in Singapore can be done at ear specialists like The Hearing Centre.

The Hearing Centre is a hearing care specialist in Singapore with almost 2 decades of presence in the industry. With a team of highly experienced and skilled audiologists, we will walk you through the entire process of getting a hearing aid with the utmost warmth and care, from the diagnosis to fitting and after-sales service including repairs and adjustments.

Apart from high-quality yet fairly priced hearing aids from the most advanced brands in the market, we are proud of our personalized services using state-of-the-art technology to suit every individual’s needs. Other than a Pure Tone Audiometry test, The Hearing Centre also does Tympanometry test, which monitor movement of the eardrum in response to changes in pressure. This is often performed on children and examines the ear fluid and checks for any tears, infections, or issues linked to the nose and throat.

The Hearing Centre offers a free online hearing test on our website for those seeking preliminary hearing loss assessment. We also do non-obligatory in-person hearing tests and consultations at all our 7 centers in Singapore.

Hearing Test In Singapore