Online hearing tests are a convenient way to screen for hearing loss. But they don’t replace a full hearing evaluation by a hearing care professional.
The standard hearing test, called an audiogram measures how well a person can hear different pitches at different volumes. It also determines the type of hearing loss a person has – conductive or sensorineural.
How Online Hearing Tests Are Changing the Industry
Online hearing tests are an attractive option for people who want to assess their hearing health and ability without visiting an audiologist or other healthcare professional.
Online hearing tests from https://www.audihearing.com.au/online-hearing-test/ are generally available in two different formats: a quiz-based screening that asks about hearing health and ability, as well as family history and symptoms of tinnitus and a more rigorous test that requires a person to listen to a recording of words or numbers that are played in various levels of background noise.
Many hearing test providers have begun using artificial intelligence to measure sound frequency and intensity levels automatically. It is based on the use of a convolutional neural network and can be trained to recognize a variety of different sound frequencies.
It also helps to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It can also determine whether a person will likely benefit from hearing aids.
Convenience
One benefit of online hearing tests is that they can be taken anywhere, anytime. It is especially beneficial if you are travelling or cannot make an appointment with an audiologist.
It can be particularly useful for employees exposed to a lot of noise at work. Employers often require workers to have a hearing test done at least once a year.
There are a few different types of online hearing tests. Some are very simple, playing beeps and asking you to identify words spoken against some background noise. Others require more involvement and may include questions about how you hear in different environments, your family history of hearing loss or any other health concerns.
If you’re experiencing difficulty hearing or understanding speech, taking an online hearing test is one of the best first steps to getting your hearing checked. It will help you decide if it’s time to visit your local audiologist for a more thorough evaluation and potentially start recovering.
Accuracy
A good online hearing test should provide clear, thorough directions and explain the methods it uses to make its determinations. It should also monitor background noise and alert you if it is too loud for an accurate result.
In addition, it should advise what to do next, such as scheduling an appointment with an audiologist or getting professional help from a hearing health professional. It should also have links to additional resources and a contact number to call if you have any questions or concerns about your results.
Another feature of a good test is the ability to provide separate results for each ear to see which one needs help. It should also identify specific sounds that seem to be causing you problems.
Scientific studies will also validate the best online hearing tests to demonstrate their accuracy. Ideally, they should have high reliability and high validity, the two most important factors when it comes to clinical testing.
Speech-in-noise (SIN) and digits-in-noise (DIN) tests measure your ability to identify words and numbers amid background noise. They’re less precise than pure-tone audiometry tests, but they indicate a hearing problem.
Affordable
Online hearing tests are an incredibly affordable way to test your hearing. You can use a computer, phone, or tablet to take an online test anytime. It is a great option if you don’t have the time or money to travel to a hearing care professional for an in-person evaluation.
When you go for an in-person hearing assessment, your audiologist can test your hearing in different environments and provide specific recommendations on improving your overall hearing health. All this will cost some money.
In addition, they will consider your current lifestyle and any past medical history before beginning the examination process.
These in-person hearing assessments also allow your audiologist to test different aspects of your hearing, such as speech recognition and cognitive processing. These are important because they can help your audiologist determine whether or not you need hearing aids.
A good online hearing test should be easy to use and offer a clean interface with simple instructions. It should also be free of spam and ads, so it isn’t a distraction. Moreover, it should be able to provide you with a quick and detailed report about your results so that you can make the best decision about your hearing health.
