Having a diagnostic hearing evaluation is the first step in determining the type, degree, and configuration of your hearing loss. For accuracy, we conduct hearing tests in sound-treated rooms using special earphones and equipment that has been calibrated to national standards. The hearing test begins with a thorough discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and any other concerns you may have. Depending on your hearing loss symptoms and case history, your audiologist will perform several different tests, which may include the following: Otoscopic examination to evaluate the status of your outer ear, ear canal, and eardrum Tympanometry / immittance testing to reveal the status of your middle ear system Air conduction and bone conduction threshold testing to determine the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies. This testing also reveals the type, degree and configuration of your hearing loss. It is more than a hearing screening. Word recognition testing to asses