Diagnostic Audiological Evaluation

At Cary Audiology Associates, we provide comprehensive audiological evaluations for anyone with hearing concerns, regardless of age. These services are diagnostic medical tests and are used to differentiate between hearing loss due to a medical condition and those due to noise exposure, genetics, or the normal aging process. All testing and follow-up is performed by Board Certified audiologists.

Prior to the evaluation, a thorough case history will be obtained and a visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum will be conducted. Mild and moderate amount of cerumen (wax) removal can be performed in the office, although typically not covered by insurance. Should there be a severe cerumen impaction, you will be referred to a physician for removal before the evaluation can be completed.

You will be tested in a sound treated booth. The hearing evaluation will consist of pure tone testing which will measure the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies. Your sensitivity, acuity and accuracy to speech understanding will be assessed as well. We may also test your ability to understand speech with competing noise using a recorded Speech in Noise test.

Additional tests of middle ear function may also be performed. These are used to evaluate the status of the pressure in your middle ear, movement of the eardrum and bones in your middle ear, reflexes, and your Eustachian tube function.

After the evaluation, we will review and interpret the results for you, as well as answer any questions you may have. If there is any indication of a medical condition, we will refer you to a physical for medical management. Otherwise we will discuss treatment options, which could include hearing aids, assistive listening devices, communication strategies, hearing protection, or tinnitus management.