How is bilateral hearing loss diagnosed?

Bilateral hearing loss is diagnosed through a multi-step process that begins with a comprehensive hearing evaluation conducted by a registered hearing aid practitioner. The first step typically involves taking a detailed medical history, where the practitioner will ask about your symptoms, any history of exposure to loud noises, family history of hearing loss, and any other health conditions that might affect hearing.

Following the history, a physical examination of the ears is performed to check for any visible issues such as earwax buildup, infection, or structural abnormalities. The core of the diagnosis is the audiometric tests, which include:

• Pure-tone audiometry: This test measures your ability to hear sounds at various pitches and volumes in each ear. It involves listening to tones through headphones and indicating when you can hear them.
• Speech audiometry: This test evaluates how well you can hear and understand speech. You’ll be asked to repeat words spoken at different volumes.
• Tympanometry: This test assesses the condition of the middle ear by creating variations in air pressure in the ear canal. It helps detect issues such as fluid in the middle ear or eardrum perforations.

The results of these tests are plotted on an audiogram, which shows the degree of hearing loss in each ear. If the audiogram indicates hearing loss in both ears, a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is confirmed. Depending on the findings, additional tests, such as otoacoustic emissions (OAE) or auditory brainstem response (ABR), may be recommended to further evaluate the function of the inner ear and auditory pathways.

At Melody Audiology, our registered hearing aid practitioners use the latest diagnostic tools to ensure an accurate diagnosis. We offer personalized care to help you understand your hearing loss and explore the best treatment options.