Hearing Tests & Evaluations

Because hearing loss arrives gradually, almost nobody notices the moment it starts, the brain quietly papers over the gaps for years. A comprehensive hearing evaluation at Northeast Hearing Solutions replaces that guesswork with a precise map of your hearing: what's normal, what's changed, and whether hearing aids are likely to help. Whether you want a baseline, an answer to a nagging suspicion, or a starting point, it starts here.

What Kind of Hearing Tests Will Be Done?

Your evaluation is tailored to your age, symptoms and history, and typically combines several of these:

• Pure-tone testing, the familiar "raise your hand when you hear the beep." Wearing headphones, you respond to tones across the pitch range while we find the softest level you can detect at each frequency. The result maps the range and degree of any hearing loss, the backbone of your audiogram.
• Bone conduction testing, a small vibrating device behind your ear delivers sound directly to your inner ear, skipping the eardrum and middle ear entirely. Comparing this with your headphone results tells us where a problem lives: the outer/middle ear (often treatable medically) or the inner ear and nerve.
• Speech testing, because beeps aren't the point; conversation is. You'll repeat words at various volumes so we can measure both the softest speech you can detect and how clearly you understand words at comfortable loudness, including, when useful, in background noise. We also verify your tone results with speech reception threshold (SRT) testing. (More in our post on speech audiometry.)

Hearing Tests for Children

Standard testing needs reliable responses, which young children can't always give. We test older children who can follow instructions and respond reliably, using age-appropriate methods and a pace that keeps the visit friendly.

Infants, toddlers and children who need specialized pediatric testing are better served by a pediatric audiologist, and we will say so and point you to one rather than stretch past what this office does well. Call before you book a child's appointment and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right place.

Other Tests

Depending on what we find, your specialist may add an otoscopy (a look inside the ear canal, sometimes the whole story is wax) or tympanometry, which measures how your eardrum and middle ear move and can reveal fluid or pressure problems.

Discussing Your Results

Your appointment is a full 90 minutes, so nothing is rushed, and you'll go over the results the same day, in plain language, with time for every question. Bring a family member if you can; two sets of ears retain more, and their perspective on your hearing is genuinely useful. If hearing aids make sense we'll lay out the options honestly; if they don't, you'll leave with a baseline and peace of mind.

If you do go on to hearing aids, PowerPay and CareCredit are available if you would rather spread the cost, and many plans including Geisinger Gold carry a hearing benefit we can check for you.

Schedule your free hearing test at our Kulpmont or Hazle Township office.

Your evaluation is performed by a licensed hearing instrument specialist. It identifies the type and degree of hearing loss and determines whether hearing aids may be appropriate. It is not a medical examination, medical diagnosis or medical opinion, and it does not replace an examination by a physician. If we see anything that should be assessed medically, including sudden hearing loss, hearing loss in one ear only, pain, drainage or dizziness, we will tell you and refer you.