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Online audiology is a hearing assessment performed through a website, but it should not replace a traditional examination by a professional audiologist. The results are based on subjective responses, and further testing may be necessary. A formal audiology facility or physician is required for a reliable and thorough evaluation.
Online audiology is a general hearing assessment performed through a website. This evaluation is not intended to replace a formal examination by a professional audiologist. If the online test indicates an impairment, a traditional examination by a trained professional is recommended.
Screening questions before online hearing testing usually include your age, gender, whether hearing loss has been suspected, and the results of any formal hearing screenings in the past few years. After answering these questions, the assessor will likely ask a series of questions designed to determine if there is a problem with your hearing.
There are several online hearing screening assessments available. Most of them ask for honest answers about hearing in various situations. Some questions may be asked about how others react to the individual in question. Answers should be based on hearing without a hearing aid.
Due to the variability in the quality and volume of speakers or headphones, no actual hearing assessment is performed in online audiology. The results are based on the candidate’s subjective responses. For this reason, online audiology should not be used as a substitute for a traditional hearing assessment.
A person who takes the audiological assessment online may receive results indicating the need for further testing. This test can be performed by an audiologist. This medical professional usually holds a master’s or doctoral degree with professional certification in the area of audiology.
An in-person hearing assessment, unlike the online hearing assessment, usually involves a tone test. The subject may be seated in a soundproof booth or quiet room with headphones on. The person conducting the test will let the subject know how she should indicate that a tone has been heard. Typically, a range of sound frequencies between 250 and 8000 hertz (Hz) is presented.
Hearing tests may also include speech and word recognition to determine the person’s ability to hear single and multiple words. In these tests, words are presented and the subject is asked to repeat each word. Tympanometry is a test to determine if the inner ear is functioning effectively. A small probe measures the middle ear’s ability to conduct sound.
While online audiological assessments are useful as a starting point for determining whether someone might be hearing impaired, the subjective nature of the test is inconclusive. They may indicate the need for further testing or at least raise questions that can be asked of a doctor. For a reliable and thorough evaluation, a hearing test from a formal audiology facility or physician is required.
