Understanding Your Hearing Test: Frequencies, Decibels and More

Navigating a hearing test involves comprehending various elements such as frequencies, decibels, and more, each crucial in evaluating auditory health. These tests explore how well an individual hears different frequencies and intensities, measuring their hearing sensitivity across a range of sounds. Understanding the significance of frequencies, which represent pitch and decibels, which measure sound intensity, is essential in interpreting the results and determining potential hearing-related issues.

The crucial thing to remember is that regular hearing tests are important when it comes to understanding and managing your hearing loss, so knowing what they entail and how they work can help you in scheduling an appointment with a hearing instrument specialist (HIS) to get advice and assistance.

The Frequency Spectrum

One of the most important parts of any hearing test is the frequency element, your hearing instrument specialist, will explain the frequencies you can hear and what it means for your hearing loss. In essence, sound is a wave, and each wave has its own specific frequency, which is measured in hertz (Hz). For every different pitch or tone linked to a sound, there will be a frequency for it. For example:

• Low frequencies 125-750 Hz: Are low-pitched sounds that include deep voices, bass music and other low sounds.
• Mid frequencies 750-4000 Hz: Are what most speech falls into, so this is the range you’ll need to hear conversations properly.
• High frequencies 4000-8000 Hz: Are high-pitched sounds like birdsong and your phone’s ring tone, for example.

When you have a hearing test, you’ll be asked to listen to tones at different frequencies so your HIS can determine the severity of your hearing loss and the type of hearing loss you might be experiencing.

Decibels

As well as the frequency of sound, another important part of a hearing test is the intensity of sound, which is measured in decibels (dBs). In other words, the more decibels there are, the louder the noise is. To help you understand more, the quietest sound a human can hear would be zero decibels, and things get louder from there. Here are some examples:

• Normal conversation would generally fall into the 60-70dBs range.
• City traffic, however, would fall into the 80-85dBs range, and it’s at this sort of level that hearing can be negatively affected over time.
• Loud music can go into the 90-120dBs range, and if you go to a lot of concerts, and music festivals or you wear headphones and listen to your music at a high volume, these levels can cause hearing loss.

When you have a hearing test, you’ll need to listen to various sounds at different decibels so your HIS can determine the degree of your hearing loss and recommend the best treatment for you.

Hearing Aids

Many individuals with hearing loss find that wearing hearing aids helps them significantly, and your hearing instrument specialist might suggest for you once they’ve carried out their tests. There are various different hearing aids available, so you’ll need to get advice about the right one for you.

In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids

Custom-made to fit your unique ears, ITE hearing aids are designed to snugly rest in the outer bowl of the ear canal, minimizing the risk of falling out. An advantage of ITE hearing aids lies in their discreet design while providing excellent sound quality, making them an ideal choice for individuals with mild-to-moderately-severe hearing loss.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear hearing aids are designed to accommodate a wide range of hearing loss, from mild to profound. These devices rest comfortably behind the ear, with a tube or wire connecting to an earmold placed inside the ear canal. This hearing aid can have various features from directional microphones to Bluetooth connectivity.

In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

ITC hearing aids will sit in the canal of your ear, designed for individuals experiencing mild-to-moderate hearing loss. ITC hearing aids are the smallest out of ITE and BTE hearing aids. If you are looking for a hearing aid the is discreet, ITC might be the right choice for you.

Each style of hearing aid will have its own benefits, and it will often depend on your level of hearing loss as well as your lifestyle, needs and preferences. Talk with a hearing instrument specialist about the right devices for you catered to your specific hearing profile.

Get In Touch Today

At Nu-Life Hearing Centre, we’re ready to help you when it comes to understanding your hearing test, hearing loss or hearing aids. Get in touch today to make an appointment with our excellent hearing instrument specialists, who’ll happily conduct a test for you and discuss your requirements. Call today at (855) 867-7449 to find out more and get started.