What happens at an adult hearing test, and how to read your audiogram
A comprehensive adult hearing test at Northside Audiology is quick, painless and tailored to your needs. It establishes the type and degree of any hearing loss and produces an audiogram, a graph plotting the softest sounds you can hear at each pitch. Medicare rebates are available with a current doctor’s referral, and appointments are available at Chatswood, Bella Vista, Neutral Bay and Gladesville.
Most people put off a hearing test for years, and the reason is rarely the hearing itself. It is not knowing what the appointment involves. So here is exactly what happens at a hearing test, and what the results actually mean.
The appointment, start to finish
The test is quick and painless. Nothing sharp, nothing uncomfortable, and no preparation required. It typically moves through four stages.
1. A conversation about your hearing
Your audiologist asks where hearing is hardest: on the phone, in restaurants, in meetings, with grandchildren. Noise exposure, family history and any tinnitus or dizziness are noted. This is the part that shapes everything after it.
2. A look inside the ear
A quick examination of the ear canal and eardrum rules out simple causes such as wax or a middle ear problem before any testing begins.
3. The listening tests
Wearing headphones in a quiet room, you signal each time you hear a tone, across a range of pitches, one ear at a time. Speech testing is usually included, because how well you understand words matters more in daily life than how well you detect tones.
4. Your results, explained on the day
You do not wait for a letter. Your audiologist walks you through the audiogram, explains what it means for your day-to-day listening, and outlines options if a hearing loss is found.
How to read an audiogram
An audiogram looks technical but reads simply once you know the two axes:
- Left to right is pitch, low frequencies on the left, high frequencies on the right.
- Top to bottom is volume. The top of the chart is very soft sound. The further down your marks sit, the louder a sound has to be before you hear it.
- O marks the right ear, X marks the left.
A line that drops away on the right side of the chart is the most common pattern in adults: high-frequency hearing loss. It is why consonants blur, why voices sound mumbled, and why background noise is so much harder than a quiet room, while the volume of speech still seems fine.
Medicare rebates and referrals
A Medicare rebate is available for hearing assessments at Northside Audiology with a current referral from your doctor. If you do not have a referral you can still book, so ask when you make the appointment.
Book a hearing test in Sydney
Northside Audiology sees adults for comprehensive hearing tests in Sydney at Chatswood, Bella Vista, Neutral Bay and Gladesville. If you have been putting it off, one appointment gives you an answer.
Key facts
- A comprehensive hearing assessment at Northside Audiology is quick, painless and tailored to the individual.
- The appointment covers hearing history, ear examination, tone and speech testing, and same-day explanation of results.
- An audiogram plots pitch left to right and volume top to bottom; O marks the right ear and X the left.
- High-frequency hearing loss is the most common adult pattern and makes consonants and speech in noise harder to follow.
- Medicare rebates are available with a current doctor’s referral. Clinics: Chatswood, Bella Vista, Neutral Bay, Gladesville.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hearing test hurt?
No. The assessment is quick and painless, and no preparation is needed.
Do I need a referral for a hearing test?
You can book without one, but a current referral from your doctor allows you to claim a Medicare rebate.
When will I get my results?
On the day. Your audiologist explains the audiogram in the appointment and talks through options if a hearing loss is found.
What does the audiogram graph mean?
Pitch runs left to right, low to high. Volume runs top to bottom, soft to loud. The lower your marks sit, the louder a sound must be before you hear it. O is the right ear, X is the left.
Where can I have a hearing test in Sydney?
Northside Audiology has clinics at Chatswood, Bella Vista, Neutral Bay and Gladesville.
Book an appointment. Medicare rebates available with a current doctor’s referral.